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Reason for inertia of motion of Earth orbiting the Sun
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
We all know the following universal truth since childhood.
Earth (and other planets) orbits around the Sun.
And, while I was reading this post, I found that the reason behind Earth revolution is chiefly due to two one force:
I want to know the reason behind the Sideways force.
Some physicists explains the movement of Earth around the Sun on the basis of the following image:
As we can see, the initial state of rock is rest. And when we apply a force, it starts moving in a circular path.
Now my question is from where the Earth had got the inertia of motion? As the rock in the above example was initially at rest and so the Earth should also be in state of rest (without any force applied on it).
newtonian-mechanics newtonian-gravity angular-momentum conservation-laws orbital-motion
asked 4 hours ago
rv7
1115
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
We all know the following universal truth since childhood.
Earth (and other planets) orbits around the Sun.
And, while I was reading this post, I found that the reason behind Earth revolution is chiefly due to two one force:
I want to know the reason behind the Sideways force.
Some physicists explains the movement of Earth around the Sun on the basis of the following image:
As we can see, the initial state of rock is rest. And when we apply a force, it starts moving in a circular path.
Now my question is from where the Earth had got the inertia of motion? As the rock in the above example was initially at rest and so the Earth should also be in state of rest (without any force applied on it).
newtonian-mechanics newtonian-gravity angular-momentum conservation-laws orbital-motion
asked 4 hours ago
rv7
1115
2
With your new edits, your question is basically just how did the earth have the right velocity to be in the orbit it is in today?
– Aaron Stevens
3 hours ago
@AaronStevens exactly!
– rv7
3 hours ago
1
Then I would make this your question. All of this talk about inertia and forces and the reason behind orbits buries your true question.
– Aaron Stevens
3 hours ago
Possible duplicates: physics.stackexchange.com/q/12140/2451 , physics.stackexchange.com/q/68646/2451 , physics.stackexchange.com/q/178627/2451 and links therein.
– Qmechanic♦
20 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
We all know the following universal truth since childhood.
Earth (and other planets) orbits around the Sun.
And, while I was reading this post, I found that the reason behind Earth revolution is chiefly due to two one force:
I want to know the reason behind the Sideways force.
Some physicists explains the movement of Earth around the Sun on the basis of the following image:
As we can see, the initial state of rock is rest. And when we apply a force, it starts moving in a circular path.
Now my question is from where the Earth had got the inertia of motion? As the rock in the above example was initially at rest and so the Earth should also be in state of rest (without any force applied on it).
newtonian-mechanics newtonian-gravity angular-momentum conservation-laws orbital-motion
asked 4 hours ago
rv7
1115
We all know the following universal truth since childhood.
Earth (and other planets) orbits around the Sun.
And, while I was reading this post, I found that the reason behind Earth revolution is chiefly due to two one force:
I want to know the reason behind the Sideways force.
Some physicists explains the movement of Earth around the Sun on the basis of the following image:
As we can see, the initial state of rock is rest. And when we apply a force, it starts moving in a circular path.
Now my question is from where the Earth had got the inertia of motion? As the rock in the above example was initially at rest and so the Earth should also be in state of rest (without any force applied on it).
newtonian-mechanics newtonian-gravity angular-momentum conservation-laws orbital-motion
newtonian-mechanics newtonian-gravity angular-momentum conservation-laws orbital-motion
asked 4 hours ago
rv7
1115
asked 4 hours ago
rv7
1115
edited 7 mins ago
asked 4 hours ago
rv7
1115
asked 4 hours ago
rv7
1115
asked 4 hours ago
rv7
1115
1115
2
With your new edits, your question is basically just how did the earth have the right velocity to be in the orbit it is in today?
– Aaron Stevens
3 hours ago
@AaronStevens exactly!
– rv7
3 hours ago
1
Then I would make this your question. All of this talk about inertia and forces and the reason behind orbits buries your true question.
– Aaron Stevens
3 hours ago
Possible duplicates: physics.stackexchange.com/q/12140/2451 , physics.stackexchange.com/q/68646/2451 , physics.stackexchange.com/q/178627/2451 and links therein.
– Qmechanic♦
20 mins ago
add a comment |Â
2
With your new edits, your question is basically just how did the earth have the right velocity to be in the orbit it is in today?
– Aaron Stevens
3 hours ago
@AaronStevens exactly!
– rv7
3 hours ago
1
Then I would make this your question. All of this talk about inertia and forces and the reason behind orbits buries your true question.
– Aaron Stevens
3 hours ago
Possible duplicates: physics.stackexchange.com/q/12140/2451 , physics.stackexchange.com/q/68646/2451 , physics.stackexchange.com/q/178627/2451 and links therein.
– Qmechanic♦
20 mins ago
2
2
With your new edits, your question is basically just how did the earth have the right velocity to be in the orbit it is in today?
– Aaron Stevens
3 hours ago
With your new edits, your question is basically just how did the earth have the right velocity to be in the orbit it is in today?
– Aaron Stevens
3 hours ago
@AaronStevens exactly!
– rv7
3 hours ago
@AaronStevens exactly!
– rv7
3 hours ago
1
1
Then I would make this your question. All of this talk about inertia and forces and the reason behind orbits buries your true question.
– Aaron Stevens
3 hours ago
Then I would make this your question. All of this talk about inertia and forces and the reason behind orbits buries your true question.
– Aaron Stevens
3 hours ago
Possible duplicates: physics.stackexchange.com/q/12140/2451 , physics.stackexchange.com/q/68646/2451 , physics.stackexchange.com/q/178627/2451 and links therein.
– Qmechanic♦
20 mins ago
Possible duplicates: physics.stackexchange.com/q/12140/2451 , physics.stackexchange.com/q/68646/2451 , physics.stackexchange.com/q/178627/2451 and links therein.
– Qmechanic♦
20 mins ago
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
There is no sideways force. It is just the Sun's gravity (shown in that diagram) combined with the fact that the Earth is already moving. This is similar to when you swing a rock tied to string around you in a circle (dangerous!!); the rock's circular movement is due to one force, the force from the string.
answered 4 hours ago
Raen
311
New contributor
Raen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
There is no sideways force. Without any force at all, the planet would keep moving in a straight line with a constant speed. You can probably find more information about this by searching for "conservation of momentum." When the gravitational force that pulls the planet toward the Sun is included, the planet's would-be straight path is bent into a circular orbit. This gravitational force toward the center of the circle is called the "centripetal force".
The post you cited depicts this incorrectly, which is especially disappointing because that appears to be a NASA site! In the picture labelled "This activity demonstrates...", the "centripetal force" should point toward the center, not in the direction of motion.
Here's a different NASA webpage that describes it correctly: https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/features/yba/CygX1_mass/gravity/circular_motion.html. The caption of one of the pictures on that page says, "Centripetal means center-seeking. Centripetal forces are always directed toward the center of the circular path." [emphasis added]
Note added: While I was typing this post (including looking for a NASA website that gets it right), other answers appeared, and I didn't notice that until after I posted this answer. I didn't mean to be repetitive.
answered 4 hours ago
Dan Yand
1116
I've edited my question for more clarity
– rv7
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
The Earth has never been at rest.
The Solar system is thought to have formed from the collapse of a large cloud of gas and dust. Individual molecules of that cloud probably had relatively small velocities to begin with, but as the cloud collapsed, they accelerated (converting gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy) and conservation of angular momentum forced them into a spinning disk (same phenomenon as an ice skater spinning faster when they pull their arms in). Collisions built rocks out of molecules and planets out of rocks. In the process, each planet accumulated (nearly) all the kinetic energy of everything that went into its formation.
The last major change to the Earth's kinetic energy was probably due to the giant impact that formed the Moon.
answered 1 hour ago
zwol
819614
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
You are misinterpreting the post and figure. The earth tends to move in a straight line due to inertia (Newton's first law).
However, earth senses a sideway force due to gravity from the sun. Sideway refers to the force perpendicular to the straight line.
answered 4 hours ago
npojo
1,352118
What causes the Earth to have the sideways force (i.e., inertia of motion in your terms) ?
– rv7
4 hours ago
No. sideway force refers to gravity force towards the sun. Inertia of motion is in the perpendicular direction.
– npojo
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
There is no sideways force. It is just the Sun's gravity (shown in that diagram) combined with the fact that the Earth is already moving. This is similar to when you swing a rock tied to string around you in a circle (dangerous!!); the rock's circular movement is due to one force, the force from the string.
answered 4 hours ago
Raen
311
New contributor
Raen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
There is no sideways force. It is just the Sun's gravity (shown in that diagram) combined with the fact that the Earth is already moving. This is similar to when you swing a rock tied to string around you in a circle (dangerous!!); the rock's circular movement is due to one force, the force from the string.
answered 4 hours ago
Raen
311
New contributor
Raen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
There is no sideways force. It is just the Sun's gravity (shown in that diagram) combined with the fact that the Earth is already moving. This is similar to when you swing a rock tied to string around you in a circle (dangerous!!); the rock's circular movement is due to one force, the force from the string.
answered 4 hours ago
Raen
311
New contributor
Raen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
There is no sideways force. It is just the Sun's gravity (shown in that diagram) combined with the fact that the Earth is already moving. This is similar to when you swing a rock tied to string around you in a circle (dangerous!!); the rock's circular movement is due to one force, the force from the string.
answered 4 hours ago
Raen
311
New contributor
Raen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 4 hours ago
Raen
311
New contributor
Raen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 4 hours ago
Raen
311
answered 4 hours ago
Raen
311
311
New contributor
Raen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Raen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Raen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
There is no sideways force. Without any force at all, the planet would keep moving in a straight line with a constant speed. You can probably find more information about this by searching for "conservation of momentum." When the gravitational force that pulls the planet toward the Sun is included, the planet's would-be straight path is bent into a circular orbit. This gravitational force toward the center of the circle is called the "centripetal force".
The post you cited depicts this incorrectly, which is especially disappointing because that appears to be a NASA site! In the picture labelled "This activity demonstrates...", the "centripetal force" should point toward the center, not in the direction of motion.
Here's a different NASA webpage that describes it correctly: https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/features/yba/CygX1_mass/gravity/circular_motion.html. The caption of one of the pictures on that page says, "Centripetal means center-seeking. Centripetal forces are always directed toward the center of the circular path." [emphasis added]
Note added: While I was typing this post (including looking for a NASA website that gets it right), other answers appeared, and I didn't notice that until after I posted this answer. I didn't mean to be repetitive.
answered 4 hours ago
Dan Yand
1116
I've edited my question for more clarity
– rv7
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
There is no sideways force. Without any force at all, the planet would keep moving in a straight line with a constant speed. You can probably find more information about this by searching for "conservation of momentum." When the gravitational force that pulls the planet toward the Sun is included, the planet's would-be straight path is bent into a circular orbit. This gravitational force toward the center of the circle is called the "centripetal force".
The post you cited depicts this incorrectly, which is especially disappointing because that appears to be a NASA site! In the picture labelled "This activity demonstrates...", the "centripetal force" should point toward the center, not in the direction of motion.
Here's a different NASA webpage that describes it correctly: https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/features/yba/CygX1_mass/gravity/circular_motion.html. The caption of one of the pictures on that page says, "Centripetal means center-seeking. Centripetal forces are always directed toward the center of the circular path." [emphasis added]
Note added: While I was typing this post (including looking for a NASA website that gets it right), other answers appeared, and I didn't notice that until after I posted this answer. I didn't mean to be repetitive.
answered 4 hours ago
Dan Yand
1116
I've edited my question for more clarity
– rv7
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
There is no sideways force. Without any force at all, the planet would keep moving in a straight line with a constant speed. You can probably find more information about this by searching for "conservation of momentum." When the gravitational force that pulls the planet toward the Sun is included, the planet's would-be straight path is bent into a circular orbit. This gravitational force toward the center of the circle is called the "centripetal force".
The post you cited depicts this incorrectly, which is especially disappointing because that appears to be a NASA site! In the picture labelled "This activity demonstrates...", the "centripetal force" should point toward the center, not in the direction of motion.
Here's a different NASA webpage that describes it correctly: https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/features/yba/CygX1_mass/gravity/circular_motion.html. The caption of one of the pictures on that page says, "Centripetal means center-seeking. Centripetal forces are always directed toward the center of the circular path." [emphasis added]
Note added: While I was typing this post (including looking for a NASA website that gets it right), other answers appeared, and I didn't notice that until after I posted this answer. I didn't mean to be repetitive.
answered 4 hours ago
Dan Yand
1116
There is no sideways force. Without any force at all, the planet would keep moving in a straight line with a constant speed. You can probably find more information about this by searching for "conservation of momentum." When the gravitational force that pulls the planet toward the Sun is included, the planet's would-be straight path is bent into a circular orbit. This gravitational force toward the center of the circle is called the "centripetal force".
The post you cited depicts this incorrectly, which is especially disappointing because that appears to be a NASA site! In the picture labelled "This activity demonstrates...", the "centripetal force" should point toward the center, not in the direction of motion.
Here's a different NASA webpage that describes it correctly: https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/features/yba/CygX1_mass/gravity/circular_motion.html. The caption of one of the pictures on that page says, "Centripetal means center-seeking. Centripetal forces are always directed toward the center of the circular path." [emphasis added]
Note added: While I was typing this post (including looking for a NASA website that gets it right), other answers appeared, and I didn't notice that until after I posted this answer. I didn't mean to be repetitive.
answered 4 hours ago
Dan Yand
1116
edited 4 hours ago
answered 4 hours ago
Dan Yand
1116
answered 4 hours ago
Dan Yand
1116
answered 4 hours ago
Dan Yand
1116
1116
I've edited my question for more clarity
– rv7
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
I've edited my question for more clarity
– rv7
3 hours ago
I've edited my question for more clarity
– rv7
3 hours ago
I've edited my question for more clarity
– rv7
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
The Earth has never been at rest.
The Solar system is thought to have formed from the collapse of a large cloud of gas and dust. Individual molecules of that cloud probably had relatively small velocities to begin with, but as the cloud collapsed, they accelerated (converting gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy) and conservation of angular momentum forced them into a spinning disk (same phenomenon as an ice skater spinning faster when they pull their arms in). Collisions built rocks out of molecules and planets out of rocks. In the process, each planet accumulated (nearly) all the kinetic energy of everything that went into its formation.
The last major change to the Earth's kinetic energy was probably due to the giant impact that formed the Moon.
answered 1 hour ago
zwol
819614
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
The Earth has never been at rest.
The Solar system is thought to have formed from the collapse of a large cloud of gas and dust. Individual molecules of that cloud probably had relatively small velocities to begin with, but as the cloud collapsed, they accelerated (converting gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy) and conservation of angular momentum forced them into a spinning disk (same phenomenon as an ice skater spinning faster when they pull their arms in). Collisions built rocks out of molecules and planets out of rocks. In the process, each planet accumulated (nearly) all the kinetic energy of everything that went into its formation.
The last major change to the Earth's kinetic energy was probably due to the giant impact that formed the Moon.
answered 1 hour ago
zwol
819614
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
The Earth has never been at rest.
The Solar system is thought to have formed from the collapse of a large cloud of gas and dust. Individual molecules of that cloud probably had relatively small velocities to begin with, but as the cloud collapsed, they accelerated (converting gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy) and conservation of angular momentum forced them into a spinning disk (same phenomenon as an ice skater spinning faster when they pull their arms in). Collisions built rocks out of molecules and planets out of rocks. In the process, each planet accumulated (nearly) all the kinetic energy of everything that went into its formation.
The last major change to the Earth's kinetic energy was probably due to the giant impact that formed the Moon.
answered 1 hour ago
zwol
819614
The Earth has never been at rest.
The Solar system is thought to have formed from the collapse of a large cloud of gas and dust. Individual molecules of that cloud probably had relatively small velocities to begin with, but as the cloud collapsed, they accelerated (converting gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy) and conservation of angular momentum forced them into a spinning disk (same phenomenon as an ice skater spinning faster when they pull their arms in). Collisions built rocks out of molecules and planets out of rocks. In the process, each planet accumulated (nearly) all the kinetic energy of everything that went into its formation.
The last major change to the Earth's kinetic energy was probably due to the giant impact that formed the Moon.
answered 1 hour ago
zwol
819614
answered 1 hour ago
zwol
819614
answered 1 hour ago
zwol
819614
answered 1 hour ago
zwol
819614
819614
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
You are misinterpreting the post and figure. The earth tends to move in a straight line due to inertia (Newton's first law).
However, earth senses a sideway force due to gravity from the sun. Sideway refers to the force perpendicular to the straight line.
answered 4 hours ago
npojo
1,352118
What causes the Earth to have the sideways force (i.e., inertia of motion in your terms) ?
– rv7
4 hours ago
No. sideway force refers to gravity force towards the sun. Inertia of motion is in the perpendicular direction.
– npojo
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
You are misinterpreting the post and figure. The earth tends to move in a straight line due to inertia (Newton's first law).
However, earth senses a sideway force due to gravity from the sun. Sideway refers to the force perpendicular to the straight line.
answered 4 hours ago
npojo
1,352118
What causes the Earth to have the sideways force (i.e., inertia of motion in your terms) ?
– rv7
4 hours ago
No. sideway force refers to gravity force towards the sun. Inertia of motion is in the perpendicular direction.
– npojo
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
You are misinterpreting the post and figure. The earth tends to move in a straight line due to inertia (Newton's first law).
However, earth senses a sideway force due to gravity from the sun. Sideway refers to the force perpendicular to the straight line.
answered 4 hours ago
npojo
1,352118
You are misinterpreting the post and figure. The earth tends to move in a straight line due to inertia (Newton's first law).
However, earth senses a sideway force due to gravity from the sun. Sideway refers to the force perpendicular to the straight line.
answered 4 hours ago
npojo
1,352118
answered 4 hours ago
npojo
1,352118
answered 4 hours ago
npojo
1,352118
answered 4 hours ago
npojo
1,352118
1,352118
What causes the Earth to have the sideways force (i.e., inertia of motion in your terms) ?
– rv7
4 hours ago
No. sideway force refers to gravity force towards the sun. Inertia of motion is in the perpendicular direction.
– npojo
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
What causes the Earth to have the sideways force (i.e., inertia of motion in your terms) ?
– rv7
4 hours ago
No. sideway force refers to gravity force towards the sun. Inertia of motion is in the perpendicular direction.
– npojo
3 hours ago
What causes the Earth to have the sideways force (i.e., inertia of motion in your terms) ?
– rv7
4 hours ago
What causes the Earth to have the sideways force (i.e., inertia of motion in your terms) ?
– rv7
4 hours ago
No. sideway force refers to gravity force towards the sun. Inertia of motion is in the perpendicular direction.
– npojo
3 hours ago
No. sideway force refers to gravity force towards the sun. Inertia of motion is in the perpendicular direction.
– npojo
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
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2
With your new edits, your question is basically just how did the earth have the right velocity to be in the orbit it is in today?
– Aaron Stevens
3 hours ago
@AaronStevens exactly!
– rv7
3 hours ago
1
Then I would make this your question. All of this talk about inertia and forces and the reason behind orbits buries your true question.
– Aaron Stevens
3 hours ago
Possible duplicates: physics.stackexchange.com/q/12140/2451 , physics.stackexchange.com/q/68646/2451 , physics.stackexchange.com/q/178627/2451 and links therein.
– Qmechanic♦
20 mins ago