A Conversation for Inertia Equals Gravity
Moon orbiting the Earth
Bright Blue Shorts Started conversation Aug 8, 2003
I thought the Moon doesn't actually orbit the Earth, but a point somewhere away from it's centre. In fact they both orbit this point as the gravity of each has an affect on the other.
Or something ...
Moon orbiting the Earth
perfectfluid Posted Aug 9, 2003
Thanks for your interesrt, Bright Blue Shorts,
You are right about your facts, but wrong about your reading of my article.
Notice that I wrote: Circular motion puts the moon in a constant state of acceleration directed toward the *orbit's* center. (Not the Earth's center). Both Earth and Moon revolve around a common centre of gravity which is a point just slightly removed from the Earth's centre.
So... the Moon *does* revolve around the Earth--just not around the Earth's center.
Hat's off to you. I knew someone would be sharp enough to latch on to this one, so I took care to say 'orbit's center'.
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Moon orbiting the Earth
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