Orbit

An orbit is the path that an object takes as it revolves around another object in space. This can be seen in the way the Earth orbits around the Sun, and the Moon orbits around the Earth. Orbits are governed by the gravitational pull between the objects involved, and the speed and direction of the moving object. The balance between the object's forward motion and the pull of gravity keeps it in a stable orbit.

Types of Orbits

Circular Orbit: An orbit in which the path of the object is a perfect circle. The Earth's orbit around the Sun is almost circular.
Elliptical Orbit: An orbit in which the path of the object is an elongated circle, or ellipse. Many planets and other objects in the solar system have elliptical orbits.
Geostationary Orbit: An orbit in which a satellite orbits the Earth at the same rate the Earth is rotating, allowing it to stay in a fixed position relative to the surface.

Orbital Motion

Objects in orbit are in a state of free fall, constantly falling towards the object they are orbiting, while also moving forward at a high speed. The combination of these two motions keeps the object in a stable orbit. The speed of an object in orbit depends on its distance from the object it is orbiting - the closer it is, the faster it moves.

Study Guide

What is an orbit?
What factors govern an object's orbit?
What are the different types of orbits?
How does orbital motion work?
How is the speed of an object in orbit related to its distance from the object it is orbiting?

◂Science Worksheets and Study Guides Second Grade. The sun and earth

Vocabulary/Answer key

The sun and earth

The resources above cover the following skills:

Concepts of Earth Science: A student should understand and be able to apply the concepts, processes, theories, models, evidence, and systems of earth and space sciences. A student who meets the content standard should:

Develop an understanding of the cyclical changes controlled by energy from the sun and by Earth's position and motion in our solar system.