answersLogoWhite

0

How do satellite stay up?

Updated: 9/15/2023
User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

Best Answer

Because that's how physics works.

Satellites are "pulled" towards the Earth (or towards whatever they're satellites of) by gravity. However, they're also moving "sideways" at the same time.

You can think of a satellite as constantly falling, but also moving sideways fast enough that by the time they've fallen far enough to impact the surface, they've moved to the side enough to miss the primary completely.

The actual situation is a little more complicated than that (among other things, the directions of "down" and "sideways" keep changing), but that should be close enough to help convince you that satellites don't need anything except speed (their orbital velocity) to make them "stay up".

Actually, maybe I can do even better. If you do a coordinate transformation into a rotating frame in which the directions of "down" and "sideways" become constant, a new force will appear in the equations, which is diametrically opposed to ... and exactly enough to ... balance the pull of gravity.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How do satellite stay up?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

Why does a satellite stay in orbit?

because the satellite is controlled by scientists


Does the satellite from Stay Tuned creates a portal or an astral plane?

The satellite from Stay Tune usually creates an astral plane.


Does Dish DVR work when the satellite is out?

No, the cable will not work when the satellite is out. The satellite is what brings you the picture. If you are concerned about the satellite, I would stay with cable.


Is it correct to say that a satellite stay in orbit?

yes


What happens when any object is dropped from a satellite?

It will stay with the satellite for a while, in a similar orbit. If the satellite is in low orbit, gradually the object will get away from the satellite, due to "tidal forces" from Earth.


Why is the satellite picture breaking up?

which satellite........


How does a satellite stay in one place?

For a satellite to stay in one place over the earth, the satellite must be going in orbit in the same direction that the earth spins. The satellite must also travel at the same pace/speed as the earth spins to give us the 24-hour day that we as people witness. To apparently stay in one place it must be in a synchronous orbit. For the earth this is about 24,000 miles altitude. It must also be an equatorial satellite.


What is the name of the orbit of the satellite around the earth?

A Geostationary orbit - it means that the satellite will always stay above the same point on Earth. Hope that helps


What direction do satallites go circling the earth?

They go around and around. More artificial satellites proceed from west to east, because it takes less energy (fuel) to launch a satellite into that kind of orbit. But there's no fundamental reason why a satellite can't go in any direction you want. The only requirements are . . . -- The center of the Earth has to be in the plane of the orbit. -- If you expect it to stay up there for a while, then the satellite has to stay outside most of the Earth's atmosphere.


What are telecommunication links?

In satellite communication, up link refers to the signal traveling up to the satellite while down link refers to the signal coming from the satellite down to earth.


How does hubble stay in orbit?

Any satellite is in a careful balance between gravity and inertia.


Is there any satellite or robots that have explored neptune close up?

have any satellite or robots look-up close to neptune