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in partnership with the Dill Faulkes Educational Trust

 

Orbits

An orbit is the path an object in space travels around another. Lots of objects in the Universe orbit others. The Moon orbits the Earth.

Orbit of dwarf planets Pluto and Charon

Momentum

If an object is moving, it has momentum. This is what keeps an object moving in the same direction. The more momentum something has, the harder it is to change its direction or bring it to a stop.

Image
Newton's cradle with five metallic spheres suspended in a row. The leftmost sphere is raised and red, showing potential energy before it strikes the others
Credit
This work by ccPixs.com is licensed under Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal
Momentum using a Newton's Cradle

Motion

Motion is when something moves from one place to another over time. 

Everything around us is always moving, from tiny particles to huge galaxies. 

In physics, we describe motion using ideas like distance, speed, and acceleration.

Image
Silhouette of a cyclist in motion during sunset, with arrows indicating the direction of movement and wheel rotation. The word 'Motion' is displayed at the top of the image
Credit
This work by The Schools' Observatory is licensed under All rights reserved