techristian writes:
The satellite must mysteriously set itself up so that it is neither pulled back by gravity nor let loose into space. It must have that perfect balance between just enough gravity but not too much gravity.
hi Techristian.
No mystery or magic really. The same mystery on how a boat finds that perfect balance between just enough buoyancy and not too much much buoyancy - a balance of forces on the freebody.
For an orbiting satellites the body will find that perfect orbit based on the velocity and mass of the satellite.
techristian writes:
Oh yes, and stay in orbit for MILLIONS OF YEARS.
Billions actually. The moon is receding, but at a slow pace in human terms (a few inches per year) because of the relatively small energy loss due to tides and deformations.
Edited by iceage, : No reason given.