Space & Gravity Vocabulary*

 

Orbit A regular, repeating path one object in space takes around another one
Satellite An object in orbit
Ecliptic Plane The sun’s path as observed from Earth
Ellipse Oval-like shape
Perigee The closest point a satellite comes to the Earth
Apogee The farthest point a satellite comes to the Earth
Perihelion The closest point a satellite comes to the sun
Aphelion The farthest point a satellite comes to the sun
Period The time it takes a satellite to make one full orbit
Orbital Plane An imaginary flat surface where objects orbit the sun
Newton’s 1st law An object in motion will stay in motion unless something pushes or pulls on it
Momentum Mass x velocity
Orbital Velocity The speed needed to stay in orbit
LEO Low Earth orbit – 100 to 200 miles above the surface
GEO Geosynchronous Earth orbit – 23,000 miles above the surface
Geostationary Satellites orbit above a location on Earth

 

 

 

*Courtesy of Ms. Heather Whitehead, Woodworth Middle School, Dearborn, Michigan

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2 Responses to Space & Gravity Vocabulary*

  1. Dheye Algalham says:

    Mr saleh are we having a test on theses vocab words is that why we updated theme.

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