<p align="right">Last Update: <font color="#4f81bd">January 07, 2025</font></p> ## BIG IDEAS - Satellites play a crucial role in global communication networks. - Satellites are essential for observing and monitoring Earth's environment and climate. - Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), are fundamental for navigation and positioning services. ### Definition A satellite is an object that moves around a larger object in space due to the gravitational attraction between the two objects. This motion is typically in an elliptical or circular orbit. ### Key Aspects - **Gravitational Attraction**: The primary force that keeps the satellite in orbit around the larger object (such as a planet, star, or moon) is gravity. - **Orbital Motion**: The satellite's path around the larger object is determined by its velocity and the gravitational pull of the larger object. This path is typically an ellipse, with the larger object at one focus of the ellipse. - **Inertia and Centripetal Force**: The satellite remains in orbit due to a balance between its inertia (which tries to move it in a straight line) and the centripetal force provided by gravity (which pulls it toward the larger object). ### Slide Deck <div style="position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-top: 56.2500%; padding-bottom: 0; box-shadow: 0 2px 8px 0 rgba(63,69,81,0.16); margin-top: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.9em; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 8px; will-change: transform;"> <iframe loading="lazy" style="position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; top: 0; left: 0; border: none; padding: 0;margin: 0;" src="https://www.canva.com/design/DAGaEOEV9Mo/fC4DrOVcAv4jf4JWXV2DpA/view?embed" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="fullscreen"> </iframe> </div> ### Related Topic --- Return [[Home|Home]] | [[The Universe]] | [[The Big Bang|The Big Bang Theory]] | [[Solar System]] | [[Galaxies]] | [[Star Clusters]] | [[Superclusters]] | [[Black Holes]]