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Once an object is set into motion in a given direction it will continue in that direction unless a force prevents it from doing so. If you swing a ball around and around on the end of a string, it goes in a circle at the end of the string. The thing that keeps the ball from flying off is the string pulling on it. If you let go of the string the ball will sail off in a straight line in the direction it was moving at the moment you release the string.

The ball wants to go in a straight line, the thing that prevents that is the string pulling on it. The string is exerting a centripetal force on the ball preventing it from flying away.

Just like the ball, a satellite rotating around the Earth would fly off into space in a straight line if something weren't pulling it back toward the Earth. Earth's gravity is exerting a centripetal force, pulling on it, preventing the satellite from sailing away.

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How does the centripetal force act on a satellite?

The centripetal force acts towards the center of the circular path followed by the satellite, allowing it to maintain its orbit. In the case of a satellite orbiting Earth, the force of gravity provides the centripetal force required to keep the satellite in its orbit.


What provides the centripetal force that keeps objects in orbit?

Centripetal force wants to move something towards the centre. So in a satellites case that would be the Gravity of the Earth. If you had a rock tied to a string you were spinning around, the Centripetal Force would be the tension in the string acting towards the centre.


What provides the force that causes the centripetal acceleratoin of the satellite in orbit?

The force that provides the centripetal acceleration for a satellite in orbit is the gravitational force between the satellite and the celestial body it is orbiting, such as Earth. This gravitational force acts as the centripetal force that keeps the satellite in its circular path around the celestial body.


What happens to the size of the centripetal force due to gravity acting on the satellite if the satellite moves farther from earth?

The centripetal force due to gravity decreases as the satellite moves farther from Earth because the force of gravity weakens with distance. This is in accordance with the inverse square law, which states that the force of gravity decreases with the square of the distance between two objects.


What is the shape of the orbit when the velocity of the satellite is everywhere perpendicular to the force of gravity?

If the velocity of the satellite is always perpendicular to the force of gravity, then the eccentricity of the orbit is zero, and it's perfectly circular.

Related Questions

How does the centripetal force act on a satellite?

The centripetal force acts towards the center of the circular path followed by the satellite, allowing it to maintain its orbit. In the case of a satellite orbiting Earth, the force of gravity provides the centripetal force required to keep the satellite in its orbit.


What provides the centripetal force that keeps objects in orbit?

Centripetal force wants to move something towards the centre. So in a satellites case that would be the Gravity of the Earth. If you had a rock tied to a string you were spinning around, the Centripetal Force would be the tension in the string acting towards the centre.


What effects gravity and centripetal combined on the same orbiting path?

I'm not sure exactly what you are asking, but centripetal force is just a name given to any force that causes circular motion. Swing a rock on the end of a string and the string tension is the centripetal force. Drive a car around a flat circular track and the friction between the tires and the road is the centripetal force. Put a satellite in orbit and gravity is the centripetal force.


What provides the force that causes the centripetal acceleratoin of the satellite in orbit?

The force that provides the centripetal acceleration for a satellite in orbit is the gravitational force between the satellite and the celestial body it is orbiting, such as Earth. This gravitational force acts as the centripetal force that keeps the satellite in its circular path around the celestial body.


What is the force that keeps a satellite in motion?

The force that keeps a satellite in motion is the gravitational force of the planet it is orbiting. This force acts as a centripetal force, pulling the satellite towards the planet and keeping it in its orbit.


Is centripetal force equal to gravitational force in working of a satillite?

No, centripetal force is the force required to keep an object moving in a circular path, while gravitational force is the force of attraction between two objects due to their mass. In the case of a satellite orbiting a planet, the centripetal force required to keep the satellite in orbit is provided by the gravitational force between the satellite and the planet.


What is the centripetal force that acts on satellites by continiously changing their direction of motion?

The centripetal force acting on satellites is gravity, specifically the gravitational force between the satellite and the celestial body it is orbiting. This force pulls the satellite towards the center of the orbit, continuously changing its direction of motion and keeping it in a circular or elliptical orbit around the celestial body.


What happens to the size of the centripetal force due to gravity acting on the satellite if the satellite moves farther from earth?

The centripetal force due to gravity decreases as the satellite moves farther from Earth because the force of gravity weakens with distance. This is in accordance with the inverse square law, which states that the force of gravity decreases with the square of the distance between two objects.


What is the shape of the orbit when the velocity of the satellite is everywhere perpendicular to the force of gravity?

If the velocity of the satellite is always perpendicular to the force of gravity, then the eccentricity of the orbit is zero, and it's perfectly circular.


What is a force that holds a moving object in a circular path is called the?

centripetal- Dashun Walden


When a body moves in a circle how force takes part there?

For circular motion to occur, there must be a centripetal force( a force that is always directed towards the centre of the circle). The centripetal force is defined as F = mv2/r Where F is the centripetal force, m is the mass of the orbiting body, v is the velocity of the body, and r is the distance to the centre of the circle. If you whirl a conker above your head, the centripetal force is provided by the tension of the string. For a planet orbiting the sun, the centripetal force is provided by gravity.


A force that holds a moving object in a circular path is called the?

A force that holds a moving object in a circular path is a "centripetal force". In the case of an orbiting planet, moon, artificial satellite etc., the mutual force of gravitation between the orbiting body and the central body is the centripetal force.