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

Geosynchronous orbit only means the orbital velocity will match the rotational velocity of the earth.

Orbits get slower the higher you go, so objects in geosync (37000km) go much slower than those at 400km. Go higher, and the speed relative to the Earth is lower. Someone standing on earth would notice the satellite to moving in reverse, eventhough it isn’t.