Satellite Orbits

Take a look at the video to the left, and imagine you are holding the satellite above the Earth.

What do you think will happen if you 'let go'? 

That's right! Gravity makes the satellite fall straight down to the surface.

This time, you will give the satellite a push in the direction of the red arrow.

Although the satellite still crashed into the Earth, it moved around the surface a bit, rather than falling straight down. If you pushed harder when you let go, it would get even further around before it crashed.

Let's try giving the satellite a really big push (shown by the big red arrow).

The satellite is still falling because of gravity, but the big push stopped it from getting any closer to the Earth. In fact, it will keep going forever! In other words, it is in orbit.