CLASS 7 · LEARNING KNOWLEDGE

Gravitation and Orbits – Basic Principles

How it works

Gravitation is the mutual attraction between masses. It keeps planets on their paths around stars and ensures that moons orbit planets. The attraction becomes weaker at greater distance and stronger at greater mass. Orbits arise when a body has a sideways velocity and at the same time is pulled toward the central body by gravity. For orbits around the same central body, the following applies: The greater the average distance, the longer one orbit usually takes. Gravity acts everywhere in the universe and is responsible for many astronomical phenomena.

Note
Gravity acts between all masses and decreases with increasing distance. An orbit arises when the gravitational force continuously deflects a body's direction of motion so that it keeps circling the central body instead of flying straight on or falling directly onto it.

An example

Why does the Moon remain on its orbit around the Earth?

The Moon remains on its orbit because Earth's gravity constantly deflects it toward the Earth while it simultaneously continues moving sideways. In this way, it is, so to speak, continuously falling past the Earth and orbiting it.

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50 Exercises · three difficulty levels · selection and number input

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Own explanation and own practice exercises by AmyMath. Subject reference framework: KMK Educational Standards Mathematics ESA/MSA. The topic assignment may vary by federal state.