Being in orbit means that satellites are at just the right speed to both overcome gravity and not crash into Earth AND not fly away.
Objects that are going too slow fall into earth, objects that are going too fast get flung away. The rest get trapped by Earth’s gravity and follow it wherever it goes.
If you get a piece of wire, tie an apple in one end and hold the other and start spinning and you’ll see the same behaviour. If you move at the right speed the apple will go with you, otherwise either the string will break off or it will fall into the ground.
Latest Answers