Question

If the moon orbits Earth, why isn't it pulled into our atmosphere and burnt up?

Answer 1

The Moon orbits around the Earth due to the gravitational force between the two bodies. This force of gravity acts as a centripetal force, constantly pulling the Moon towards the Earth and preventing it from moving in a straight line.

While the Moon is indeed affected by Earth's gravity, it is not pulled into our atmosphere and burnt up for a few reasons:

1. Gravitational Balance: The gravitational force between the Earth and the Moon creates a balance. The Moon's orbital velocity, which is the speed at which it moves around the Earth, is precisely adjusted so that the gravitational force pulling it inward is balanced by its centripetal force pulling it outward. This delicate balance allows the Moon to maintain a stable orbit without spiraling into the Earth.

2. Altitude: The Moon's orbit is at a relatively large distance from the Earth, with an average distance of about 384,400 kilometers. This distance keeps the Moon outside of the dense layers of the Earth's atmosphere. The Earth's atmosphere extends only a few hundred kilometers above the surface, whereas the Moon orbits much higher, so there is no significant atmospheric drag acting on the Moon to slow it down or cause it to burn up.

3. Vacuum of Space: The region of space where the Moon orbits is mostly a vacuum, meaning it is devoid of air or any significant amount of matter. Without a dense medium like our atmosphere, there is no friction or resistance to cause the Moon to lose energy or burn up.

It's worth noting that objects that do enter the Earth's atmosphere, such as meteoroids, can experience intense heat and friction due to atmospheric drag. However, the Moon's orbital velocity and distance allow it to remain outside the Earth's atmosphere and avoid such effects.

In summary, the Moon orbits the Earth due to gravitational forces, but it is not pulled into our atmosphere and burnt up because the gravitational balance between the Earth and the Moon, the Moon's altitude, and the vacuum of space all contribute to its stable orbit and keep it safely outside the Earth's atmosphere.