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From Karnataka Open Educational Resources
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| − | == Satellite ==
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| − | An Earth satellite is simply a projectile that falls around the Earth rather than into it. That means the horizontal falling distance matches the Earth''s curvature. Geometrically, the curvature of the surface is that its surface drops a vertical distance of 5 metres for every 8000 metres tangent to the surface.
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| − | Therefore, if we throw a rock or a ball at a high enough speed (about 29000 km/s), it would follow the curvature of the Earth. But at this speed, atmospheric friction (due to air drag) would burn up everything. This is why satellites are launched at an altitude high enough for the air drag to be negligible.
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| − | Satellite motion was understood by Newton who reasoned that the Moon was simply a projectile that was circling the Earth. <br><br>
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| | === Activity 4 - Demonstration of satellite motion using simulation === | | === Activity 4 - Demonstration of satellite motion using simulation === |
