A Wonderleaf question
How do satellites stay in orbit?
a real page from the book
Satellites stay in orbit because gravity pulls them toward Earth while their sideways speed carries them forward. They are not hovering in place; they keep missing the ground because Earth curves away beneath their path.
The neat part is that once a satellite reaches the right path, space lets it coast. With almost no air dragging on it, a satellite can circle for years, using only small bursts of fuel to adjust its route.
Wonder words
- orbit
- gravity
- friction
- satellite
Try it out
Roll a ball across the floor and watch how speed changes the shape and length of its path.
Read the whole picture book
Watercolour scenes, straight answers, about three minutes cover to cover.
Open the picture bookKeep wondering
- Could people live on Mars someday?
- What is a shooting star?
- What is a black hole?
- Why do astronauts float in space?
- Why is space so dark?
- Why is the moon sometimes out during the day?
And the next question?
Ask anything — Wonderleaf writes and illustrates a picture book for it. That's the whole idea.
Ask your own question