Orbital Motion

Front

What is orbital motion?

Back

Orbital motion refers to the movement of an object in a curved path around a central body due to gravitational forces.

Front

Define eccentricity in the context of orbits.

Back

Eccentricity is a measure of how much an orbit deviates from being circular; it ranges from 0 (circle) to 1 (parabola).

Front

What does an eccentricity of 0.6 indicate about an orbit?

Back

An eccentricity of 0.6 indicates that the orbit is elliptical and somewhat elongated.

Front

What is the shape of the path for an object with an eccentricity of 0?

Back

The shape of the path is a perfect circle.

Front

What is the centripetal force?

Back

Centripetal force is the inward force required to keep an object moving in a circular path.

Front

How does the speed of a satellite affect its orbit?

Back

The speed of a satellite determines its orbital radius; higher speeds can lead to lower orbits.

Front

What is the relationship between gravitational force and orbital motion?

Back

Gravitational force provides the necessary centripetal force to keep an object in orbit.

Front

What happens to the orbital path if the centripetal force is removed?

Back

If the centripetal force is removed, the object will move in a straight line tangent to the orbit.

Front

What is the difference between a circular orbit and an elliptical orbit?

Back

A circular orbit has a constant distance from the central body, while an elliptical orbit varies in distance.

Front

What is the significance of the red arrow in orbital diagrams?

Back

The red arrow typically represents the direction of the centripetal force acting on the orbiting object.