10th/9th (Foundation) Physics, Chemistry, Math Forum

physics gravitation

physics gravitation

by Mehnas Saleem -
Number of replies: 1

Why does the moon not fall to the earth? does not an apple and the moon experience the same acceleration towards the earth? 

can we reason that as gravitational force between two objects =GMm/d raised to two,and the distance between the bodies is large, the force on moon by earth is enough only to have it in an orbital path around the earth and not enough to get it in contact with earth ? 

If there is another logical answer please explain. 

In reply to Mehnas Saleem

Re: physics gravitation

by Tanvi Mehta -

Apple and moon experience different acceleration towards the earth due to different values of g at different heights. Moon does not fall as the force applied by the earth on the moon equals the centripetal force required for the orbital path of the moon. If the earth attracts moon with larger force then moon may eventually fall on the earth.