Hi,
what keeps objects in orbit, for example, preventing the moon from crashing into the earth under the force of gravity?
I have read that it speeds up as it gets closer to earth but I don't understand why.
Can someone help me?
Thanks.
Newton's first law of motion: everything continues in the same motion unless an outside force acts on it. Objects in orbit would fly off in a straight line without some force bending it inward.
What bends it inward? Gravity. Now if Gravity is too much, the object spirals inward and crashes, if it is too little, the object moves off into space. If gravity is just right, it stays in orbit.