answersLogoWhite

0

Because the moon moves with a certain speed in its orbit, that orbital motion produces a centrifugal force which opposes the attraction of gravity. The balance between gravity and centrifugal force keeps the moon in orbit. The moon continues to orbit at the speed it does, because of its inertia. Moving in the vacuum of space, the moon does not encounter resistance to its motion. There is, however, some energy lost as a result of tidal forces, and that will, over a very long period of time, eventually alter the moon's orbit.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What force keeps a moon from orbiting a planet?

The Moon is orbiting a planet; It is orbiting the Earth. The velocity /acceleration of the Moon and the gravitational pull between Earth and Moon are in balance, so the Moon remains orbiting the Earth. Similarly the Earth and Moon , as a binary system, orbit the Sun , and the acceleration and gravitational forces are in balance. So none of us collide.


What is the moon doing while earth is orbiting the sun?

while the earth is orbiting the sun the moon is orbiting the earth


How may moons are orbiting the planet earth?

One moon is orbiting Earth and that is called The Moon.


What does force have to do with the moon orbiting the earth?

Force? As in The Force from Star Wars? Or a gravitation force? Care to explain?


What is the relationship between the earth and moon?

The Moon gives the Earth tides and the Earth keeps the Moon orbiting the Earth because of the gravitational pull.


What force keeps the moon in orbit around the sun?

The force that keeps the moon in orbit around the sun is the gravitational force between the sun and the moon. This force causes the moon to continuously fall towards the sun but its orbital motion prevents it from colliding with the sun.


What keeps the moon orbiting around the earth?

Orbits are established by the combined effects of gravitational attraction and relative velocity. In other words, the moon, like any orbiting body, moves forward (tangent to its orbit) at a speed just sufficient to ensure that as it falls toward the earth due to gravity, it has moved far enough that the two motions combine to keep it at a roughly stable distance from the earth.


Is the pull of gravity between the moon and the earth keeps the moon orbiting the earth?

Yes, the gravitational pull between the Earth and the Moon is what keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth. This gravitational force is what causes the Moon to travel in a curved path around the Earth rather than moving off into space.


What is in orbit with the Earth?

The moon. The earth is in orbit around the sun, but the moon goes with it, orbiting the earth directly and orbiting the sun indirectly.


Is there any moon on earth?

There is no moon on Earth, but there is one orbiting it; we call it the moon.


How is the moon affected by the earth?

The moon is affected by the Earth primarily through gravitational forces. This interaction leads to phenomena such as the moon orbiting the Earth, causing tidal effects on Earth's oceans, and influencing the moon's rotation to always keep one face toward Earth.


Is the moon on top of the sun?

No, it is orbiting our Earth, which is orbiting our Sun.