eli5: I’ve heard orbit described as continuously falling past or missing the Earth, how then do objects in geosynchronous orbit above a single point not fall out of the sky?

Question

eli5: I’ve heard orbit described as continuously falling past or missing the Earth, how then do objects in geosynchronous orbit above a single point not fall out of the sky?

In: 2204

Answer 1

Earth is also rotating, if you’re at the right altitude, the speed you need to “fall past” is one lap around the earth in 24 hours. That means you’re always over the same spot on earth, because that spot also does one full lap every 24 hours.