What keeps the moon from crashing into the Earth?

[plastick]

me and a friend were discussing this and he was trying to explain to me that it was because the earth is spinning, the moon is unable to fall into earth...something about gravity and centerfugal forces..

anyway, im still looking on wikipedia right now but i was just wondering if anyone knew any better search terms or whatever to help me out.

EDIT:
I want to restate my question....

How does the Earth's spinning effect the moon? Does it at all?

 

[CrackRabbit]

IIRC, (which i probably don't at this time of the morning) the moon is moving ever so slowly away from the earth.
not sure why though.

 

[BHeemsoth]

A piece of string connected to the sun.

 

[lozina]

The moon is a big North pole magnet and the moon is a big South pole magnet so they repel reachother?

 

[plastick]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
IIRC, (which i probably don't at this time of the morning) the moon is moving ever so slowly away from the earth.
not sure why though.

oh yeah i heard something about that during an evolution vs creation debate. not what im looking for though...


im trying to understand the known workings of gravity

 

[Ime]

Actually it's because I hold it there, but man my back is getting tired...

 

[aphex]

I think it has something to do with a quadrapalegic midget on a unicycle.

 

[Queasy]

I dunno off-hand but I am sure that it involves cheese.

 

[Descartes]

It has to do with its orbital velocity. It's sufficient enough to keep the moon from crashing into earth through gravitational decay, and as someone else said it's actually enough such that the moon is receding in its orbit slightly every year.

 

[plastick]

Originally posted by: Descartes
It has to do with its orbital velocity. It's sufficient enough to keep the moon from crashing into earth through gravitational decay, and as someone else said it's actually enough such that the moon is receding in its orbit slightly every year.

okay thanks man.. im searching for orbital velocity

 

[Rogeee]

Read This

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: plastick
me and a friend were discussing this and he was trying to explain to me that it was because the earth is spinning, the moon is unable to fall into earth...something about gravity and centerfugal forces..

anyway, im still looking on wikipedia right now but i was just wondering if anyone knew any better search terms or whatever to help me out.

centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces..

DONT EXIST!!! INCORRECT WORD

 

[loic2003]

centrifugal force

/thread

 

[littleprince]

The elves at the centre of the moon run in little hamster wheels and produce just enough power to push the moon. There ultimate goal is to steal the moon from the earth and bring it back to mars

 

[George P Burdell]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon

table on the right has all the orbital velocity data you need

edit: I'm surprised nobody's made a Chuck Norris reply yet...

 

[Omegachi]

centerfugal forces? you in high school?

 

[mugs]

It's moving too fast.

 

[George P Burdell]

Originally posted by: loic2003
centrifugal force

/thread

for centrifugal force to apply, the moon would have to be TIED to the earth!!!!

Read THIS

 

[loic2003]

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
edit: I'm surprised nobody's made a Chuck Norris reply yet...

I was going to, but then I figured I didn't want to be one of the lame people who makes such a joke.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Omegachi
centerfugal forces? you in high school?

:laugh:

I've seen worse.

centerfrugal. :Q

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces..

DONT EXIST!!! INCORRECT WORD

So there is an "e" instead of an "i". You went a little overboard on the spelling nazi act.

 

[George P Burdell]

Originally posted by: loic2003

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
edit: I'm surprised nobody's made a Chuck Norris reply yet...

I was going to, but then I figured I didn't want to be one of the lame people who makes such a joke.

Fair enough.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces.. centerfugal forces..

DONT EXIST!!! INCORRECT WORD

So there is an "e" instead of an "i". You went a little overboard on the spelling nazi act.

*

* The fictitious centrifugal force appears when a rotating reference frame is used for analyzing the system. The centrifugal force is exerted on all objects, and directed away from the axis of rotation.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE
The fictitious centrifugal force appears when a rotating reference frame is used for analyzing the system. The centrifugal force is exerted on all objects, and directed away from the axis of rotation.

I guess you didn't see the wink.

Centrifugal forces do exist. Just not in planitary motion.

 

[plastick]

Originally posted by: loic2003

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
edit: I'm surprised nobody's made a Chuck Norris reply yet...

I was going to, but then I figured I didn't want to be one of the lame people who makes such a joke.

The moon would, except it knows that Chuck Norris would round house kick it's ass...