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Gravitational forces cause the Earth to pull on the Moon, and the Moon to pull on the Earth (Earth is about 81 times as massive). Since the Moon is travelling with sufficient velocity, it does not fall into the Earth, but rather orbits around the Earth.
The mutual attractive force between the Earth and Moon, due to gravity, keeps the two bodies in a state of mutual revolution. If the force of gravity didn't exist, then the Moon would take off from the Earth in a straight line, and the Earth would likewise take off from the Sun.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoBecause the gravity on earth keeps the moon in its place. Since there's no gravity in space it causes the moon to move. When the moon tries to move it circles around earth in its gravitational pull.\
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Dakota
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoGravity pulls the moon toward the Earth but the moon does not crash into it because it is already moving sideways compared to that gravity. By the time the gravity has pulled the moon down a mile or so it has already moved sideways by about a mile so as this continues the moon falls in a circle always missing the Earth.
It isn't quite a circle though. If the moon gets closer gravity pulls harder so the moon moves faster, except it ends up moving sideways faster instead of down faster. This eventually takes it further away from the Earth so gravity pulls softer and the moon ends up moving sideways slower. The end result is an elliptical path.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe moon orbits the Earth because it is closer and smaller than us.
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What makes the Moon wax and wane?
The moon orbits the Earth every month and as it does so, we see different parts of the moon lit up by the sun, which causes the moon to go through 'phases'.
How far away is the sun in miles?
It varies - the moon orbits the Earth so the distance will change depending on Earth's distance from the sun as well as the moon's distance from the Earth. The minimum distance from the moon to the sun is when the Earth is closest to the sun and the moon is in new moon phase (meaning its closer to the sun than the Earth). The distance from the moon to the sun is: Earth's distance at perihelion - moon's distance from Earth at apogee. This works out to 146,692,370 km. The maximum distance from the moon to the sun is when the Earth is farthest from the sun and the moon is in full moon phase. The distance from the moon to the sun is Earth's distance at aphelion + moon's distance from Earth at apogee. This works out to 150,503,400 km.
Earth is closest to the moon in August?
Not necessarily. The moon orbits the earth once per lunar cycle which is roughly once per month. Each orbit has a point of perigee (closest approach to earth) and apogee (farthest approach to earth). I could be mistaken, but I don't believe there is anything special about the month of August regarding the moon's perigee.
How much brighter is a full moon than a half moon?
On the side of the moon that the sun is shining on, the temperature reaches 260°Fahrenheit! That is hotter than boiling. On the dark side of the moon, it gets very cold, -280° Fahrenheit. The moon is about 2,000 miles across.
Does the moon revolve because of gravitational forces?
Yes, the moon revolves about (orbits) the earth because of gravitational forces. However it also rotates (turns/spins) about its axis of rotation - this movement involves gravitational forces as well. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gravity is involved in both the revolution and the rotation of the moon. For more on the rotation (spin) of the moon, see the link below.
How is the earth and moon orbit different?
The Earth orbits around the Sun, while the moon orbits around the Earth.
What kind of satellite is on the moon and orbits Earth?
The moon IS a satellite that orbits earth
What does the moon refect as it orbits the moon?
The Moon reflects the light of Sun towards Earth as it orbits Earth.
The moon orbits what planet?
The moon with the specific name 'The Moon' orbits planet Earth.
What shape does the moon orbits the earth?
The moon orbits the earth almost a complete circle.
Dose the moon and the earth orbit around the sun?
The Moon orbits the Earth, the Earth orbits the Sun
Does the moon orbit Earth or does the Earth orbit the moon?
The moon orbits Earth.
What Orbits and is Orbited?
Earth. It orbits the sun and the moon orbits it
What makes moon orbits earth?
Gravity. The moon orbits the earth because the moon is stuck in earths gravational pull.
When the moon rotates around the sun what happens to the moon?
The Moon does not orbit the Sun; it orbits the Earth. The Earth orbits the Sun.
What is the eclipticA. The plane that the sun orbits Earth onB. The plane that the moon orbits the sun onC. The plane that Earth orbits the sun onD. The plane that the moon orbits Earth on?
C.
How long for Moon to orbit Sun?
The Moon actually orbits the Earth, which it does in 28 days, but if you consider the Earth and the Moon as a double system, then the Moon orbits the Sun once a year, just as the Earth does. The Moon is much closer to the Earth than the Earth and the Moon are to the Sun.
