Does the Moon fall toward Earth with acceleration 9.8 m/sΒ²?
The idea that the Moon is "falling" to Earth may seem strange, but it's actually an important concept in physics. According to the law of gravity, as explained by Isaac Newton, every object in the universe attracts every other object. This gravity is what keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth. π
On the surface of the Earth, objects fall at an acceleration of about 9.8 m/sΒ² due to the Earth's strong gravity. If you threw a ball, it would accelerate towards the ground at this speed. β½β¬οΈ However, the Moon is very far from the Earth, about 384,400 km away, so the gravity it experiences is very weak. Since gravity decreases with distance, the Moon's acceleration towards the Earth is only 0.0027 m/sΒ², not 9.8 m/sΒ². π
Although the Moon is constantly being pulled towards the Earth, it does not hit the planet. This is because it is moving sideways at a much faster rate, about 1 km per second. π This sideways motion balances the pull of gravity. As a result, the Moon keeps missing the Earth as it falls towards it. This curved motion forms its orbit. π
You can think of this situation as like throwing a ball horizontally from a very high mountain. If it spins fast enough, the Earth will curve under it and gravity will pull it down. Instead of hitting the ground, the ball keeps going around the planet. πβ¨
Therefore, the Moon is always falling towards the Earth due to gravity, but not at a speed of 9.8 m/sΒ². Its very low gravitational acceleration and its lateral velocity combine to create a stable orbit. This beautiful balance of motion and gravity helps the Moon orbit the Earth and illuminate our night sky. ππ
