0
Does a satellite circle the Earth or does Earth circle a satellite?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Technically, the Earth and any satellite both circle their mutual center of mass. Just like the balancing of an adult and a child on a see-saw, since the earth's mass is several times the mass of the satellite, their common center of mass is closer to the earth's center than it is to the satellite. Even in the case of the moon, the pair's common center of mass is inside the earth. In the case of any man-made artificial satellite, the mass ratio is several gazillion, and the common center of mass can't be more than a hair's breadth from the earth's center. So for any satellite, including the moon, it looks exactly as if the satellite is circling the earth.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoAnything that revolves around something is a satellite.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
How many artificial satellites circle the earth?
over a thousand artificial satellites. the first artificial satellite was sputnik. the only natural satellite earth has is the moon
Moon is to satellite as earth is to What?
moon is to satellite as earth is to planet
Is a natural satellite of earth?
The only natural satellite of the Earth is - the moon.
How satellite pictures of earth are made and transmitted?
Satellite pictures of Earth are taken by a camera mounted on a satellite in orbit, high above Earth's atmosphere. They are transmitted wirelessly over satellite signals, much like satellite TV.
Is torque produce in satellite due to gravity?
A satellite small enough to be treated as a point particle. Can earth's gravity exert a torque on a satellite about the earth's center? Torque causes an object to rotate around a specific point. Torque = force * perpendicular distance and Torque = moment of Inertia * angular acceleration. When a satellite is launched, it is forced up to a specific distance from the earth's center and accelerated to a specific velocity parallel to the surface of the earth. The satellite continues moving in circular orbit. The force which causes the satellite to move in a circular path is the gravitational force caused by the mass of the earth, mass of the satellite, and distance from the center of mass of the earth to the center of mass of the satellite. This force causes the direction of the velocity to rotate so it is always tangent to the circle. This force produces the torque which makes causes the satellite to rotate so the direction of its velocity is always perpendicular to the direction of the gravitational force.
What names a communications object that circle the earth?
satellite
What is the object called that is sent to space to circle earth?
A Satellite
What is an object sent to space to Circle earth?
What is an object sent into space to circle earthA satellite ?
Which country launched the first artificial satellite to circle the earth?
Russia
Why does a satellite keep moving in a circle?
because it is pushed by aliens around the earth
How many artificial satellites circle the earth?
over a thousand artificial satellites. the first artificial satellite was sputnik. the only natural satellite earth has is the moon
What country lauched the first artificial satellite to circle the earth?
Russia (U.S.S.R.) had the sputnik
How long does it take a satellite in low earth orbit to circle the entire planet?
About an hour.
How is a weather satellite in polar orbit able to view Earths surface?
From the question, I'm guessing that when the questioner reads the term "polar orbit", he's picturing the satellite doing a little tiny circle in the sky over the North Pole. This is not an accurate understanding of the term. Remember that the center of the orbit of an artificial satellite has to be at the center of the earth. A 'polar orbit' is an orbit that covers both poles. If you picture the globe of the earth, the satellite's orbit is a circle standing up, with the satellite traveling up and down, passing over both poles in each complete revolution of the earth. As the earth rotates, every point on earth passes under the orbit, and sooner or later, every point on earth will be visible from the satellite.
How do you explain the meaning of the term satellite?
A satellite can be natural or artificial. An artificial satellite is placed in orbit around the earth, moon, or another planet in order to collect information or for communication. A natural satellite is a celestial body orbiting the earth or another planet.
Why do you think a satellite doesn't get pulled to the ground by gravity?
It certainly gets pulled toward the Earth. Without the pull of gravity, the satellite would continue moving in a straight line, instead of going around the Earth in a circle or ellipse.
Is the moon a satellite of earth?
Yes, the moon is a natural satellite of the Earth.
