🌌 Physics in the Sky: How Satellites Stay in Orbit
📘 What Does It Mean?
Satellite Orbit: An orbit is a curved path that a satellite follows around a planet due to the balance of two forces: gravity pulling it inward and its motion trying to move it forward.
📡 Applications of Satellite Orbits
- 🌐 Communication: Mobile, internet, and TV signal transmission
- 🛰️ GPS Navigation: Helps with maps and location tracking
- 📷 Earth Observation: For weather forecasting and disaster monitoring
- 🔭 Space Science: Telescopes in orbit like Hubble for astronomy
💡 Real-Life Examples
- 🛰️ International Space Station (ISS): Orbits Earth every 90 minutes
- 🛰️ Geo-stationary Satellites: Stay fixed over one point on Earth
- 🛰️ Starlink Satellites: Provide internet from space
✅ Advantages of Satellite Orbits
- 🌍 Wide coverage of the planet
- 🚀 Real-time data collection and communication
- 📡 Minimal infrastructure needed on Earth
⚠️ Disadvantages of Satellite Orbits
- 💸 High cost of launch and maintenance
- 💥 Risk of collision or space debris
- 🌫️ Signal delays or loss in bad weather
🛰️ Gravity Simulator
Watch how gravity pulls the satellite into orbit!
🔄 Adjust Angular Velocity
Angular Velocity: 1.5
🧩 Force Balance Puzzle
Q: If the satellite's velocity increases too much, what happens?