Hi there! I’m Sabrina, and today we’re going to learn about something really cool: orbits! You might have noticed that Mr. Moon looks a bit green. That’s because he’s feeling a little jealous. We’ve talked a lot about the Sun, but today is all about him and orbits. Let’s dive in!
An orbit is the path that an object follows around another object. For example, the Earth orbits around the Sun. Similarly, the Moon orbits around the Earth. But why don’t these objects just crash into each other? That’s where gravity comes in!
Gravity is a force that pulls objects towards each other. It’s the reason you stay on the ground and don’t float away. But if gravity is always pulling things together, why don’t things that orbit the Earth, like the Moon, crash into it?
The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite. It takes about 27 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth. The Moon has huge craters from asteroids and plains shaped by ancient lava flows. Scientists believe the Moon formed billions of years ago from pieces of Earth that were blasted into space after a big collision.
Besides the Moon, there are also human-made satellites orbiting Earth. One of the most famous is the International Space Station (ISS). It’s a big satellite where astronauts live and do experiments. The ISS orbits Earth 16 times a day! There are thousands of other satellites that help with weather forecasts, communication, and more.
Now, let’s figure out why satellites, including the Moon, don’t just fall to Earth. Two things keep them in orbit: gravity and velocity. Gravity pulls them towards Earth, but their speed and direction (velocity) keep them moving around the planet.
If a satellite moves too fast, it could escape Earth’s gravity and fly off into space. If it moves too slow, gravity would pull it down to Earth. So, it’s all about balance. As long as the speed is just right, the satellite stays in orbit.
So, the Moon and other satellites are always kind of “falling” towards Earth, but they’re moving so fast that they keep missing it. That’s why they don’t crash! As long as they maintain the right speed, they stay safely in orbit.
Now you know why things that orbit the Earth don’t crash into it. It’s all about balancing speed and gravity. Great job, Mr. Moon! Take a bow!
Orbit Dance: Let’s pretend to be planets and satellites! Find a partner and decide who will be the Earth and who will be the Moon. The Earth stands still, while the Moon walks around them in a circle. Remember, the Moon is always “falling” towards the Earth but moving fast enough to keep going around. Try to keep a steady pace and not get too close or too far away. Can you keep orbiting without stopping?
Gravity Experiment: Gather a small ball and a larger ball, like a tennis ball and a basketball. Drop them from the same height at the same time. Watch how they fall to the ground together. This shows gravity pulling them down. Now, imagine if the balls were moving sideways really fast—just like satellites, they would keep missing the ground and stay in orbit!
Satellite Spotting: With the help of an adult, go outside at night and try to spot a satellite in the sky. They look like tiny moving stars. You can use a satellite tracking app to know when one will pass by. Think about how fast it must be moving to stay in orbit and not fall to Earth. Discuss with your adult why it doesn’t crash into us!
