|
|
Post by GTCGreg on May 14, 2015 16:12:22 GMT
I don't know why the elliptical orbit would sync up with the rotation around the earth but from what I've read, it does. I don't have the necessary knowledge to debate that. I could very well be wrong. I'm sure the relative position of the Sun and Moon would also have some effect, but not that great of one. I think the period of the oscillation would be more dependent on how hard the ball was launched than anything else. a harder launch would have a longer period (and deeper amplitude) than a weaker launch. But then a slower moving ball would take longer to "cycle" because of the lower speed while a ball thrown faster would take longer because of the greater distance. Again, I don't really know. You could be right. |
|
|
|
Post by the light works on May 15, 2015 0:31:05 GMT
I think the period of the oscillation would be more dependent on how hard the ball was launched than anything else. a harder launch would have a longer period (and deeper amplitude) than a weaker launch. But then a slower moving ball would take longer to "cycle" because of the lower speed while a ball thrown faster would take longer because of the greater distance. Again, I don't really know. You could be right. yeah, we're both just throwing balls in space, here.  |
|
|
|
Post by silverdragon on May 15, 2015 8:12:37 GMT
Elliptical orbit.... Now I had someone try and explain this to me, but they were struggling. A "perfect" elliptical orbit, if it were perfect, pick one point on the earth, say Mt Everest, and say that is the "high point", as in its the point at which the orbit would be furthest from earth, "perfect" would mean that as the moon flew over that point, it would ALWAYS fly over Everest at its furthest point from earth. However, as the earth spins, that doesnt happen. But if the earth didnt spin, then the above analogy would be true. So taking that, the elipse would be always the same. However,, if you look at the moons ellipse, it describes more of a spirograph "flower", its flight path is more like this... which is much exagerated to make the point...  In fact, that a good example, its meant to be how the earth orbits the sun, but is also good for how the moon orbits the earth. |
|
|
|
Post by the light works on May 15, 2015 14:40:36 GMT
Elliptical orbit.... Now I had someone try and explain this to me, but they were struggling. A "perfect" elliptical orbit, if it were perfect, pick one point on the earth, say Mt Everest, and say that is the "high point", as in its the point at which the orbit would be furthest from earth, "perfect" would mean that as the moon flew over that point, it would ALWAYS fly over Everest at its furthest point from earth. However, as the earth spins, that doesnt happen. But if the earth didnt spin, then the above analogy would be true. So taking that, the elipse would be always the same. However,, if you look at the moons ellipse, it describes more of a spirograph "flower", its flight path is more like this... which is much exagerated to make the point... In fact, that a good example, its meant to be how the earth orbits the sun, but is also good for how the moon orbits the earth. but the model I am looking at with the ball, I am thinking would be closer to how the (earth's) moon orbits the sun. |
|
|
|
Post by c64 on Sept 2, 2015 13:42:26 GMT
YOu can check it out very easily in a computer simulation. Just buy the game "Kerbal Space Program", this is much more accurate than anything we could come up with by thinking about the question. And it is a lot of fun.
|
|
