Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: RadioAstronomer

It depends on how it is slowed. This is not a scalar.

The bottom line is that equilibrium must be obtained to maintain a stable orbit. So if the orbital tangential speed is decreased without changing any other factors, the corresponding centrifugal acceleration will be lower. Given that the masses of the two bodies (sun and planet) have not changed the gravitational force has not changed, so the planet will 'fall' towards the sun.

It is why skylab is no longer intact. It slowed down. Came home.


102 posted on 08/18/2006 9:34:40 AM PDT by jbp1 (be nice now)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 93 | View Replies ]


To: jbp1

Agreed. Was being a bit silly with my post. Should have qualified that.


106 posted on 08/18/2006 9:37:52 AM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 102 | View Replies ]

To: jbp1

BTW, as you impart energy into a satellite to lift it to a higher orbit, the satellite's velocity decreases.


110 posted on 08/18/2006 9:44:18 AM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 102 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson