If suddenly the gravitational force of attraction between earth and a satellite revolving around it

Q: Why doesn't the satellite fall towards the Earth?

Because the question explicitly states that the gravitational force becomes zero. Without gravity, there is no force pulling it towards the Earth.

Q: Why doesn't it just stop moving?

Newton's First Law tells us that an object in motion stays in motion unless a force stops it. Since there's no friction or air resistance in space, and gravity is gone, it will keep moving forever.

Q: Does its speed increase since it's no longer bound by gravity?

No. To change an object's speed, you need a force acting in the direction of its motion. With zero net force, its acceleration is zero, meaning its velocity (both speed and direction) remains perfectly constant.

Q: What is the difference between moving tangentially and moving radially?

Moving radially would mean moving straight outward from the center of the Earth. Moving tangentially means moving along the straight line that touches the circular orbit at exactly one point—the direction of its instantaneous velocity.

Q: Is this scenario physically possible?

In reality, you can't just 'turn off' gravity. However, this is a classic thought experiment designed to test your fundamental understanding of inertia and centripetal force.

Question

If suddenly the gravitational force of attraction between earth and a satellite revolving around it becomes zero, then the satellite will

Options:

(A) continue to move in its orbit with same velocity

(B) move tangentially to the original orbit with the same velocity

(C) become stationary in its orbit

(D) move towards the earth

Sigma Percentile · Accepted Answer

### The Delicate Dance of Orbit

Imagine a satellite gracefully orbiting the Earth. It's moving at a tremendous speed, yet it doesn't fly off into the abyss of space. Why? Because of a delicate balance.

The satellite has a tangential velocity—it wants to go straight. However, the Earth's gravity acts as an invisible tether, constantly pulling the satellite towards the center. This inward pull provides the necessary **centripetal force** ($F_c = \frac{mv^2}{r}$), which continuously bends the satellite's path into a circle.

### The Thought Experiment: Turning Off Gravity

Now, the problem asks us to imagine a scenario straight out of science fiction: what if the gravitational force of attraction suddenly becomes zero?

Let's visualize this. The invisible tether snaps. The centripetal force that was forcing the satellite to turn is instantly gone.

### Newton's First Law Takes the Wheel

To understand what happens next, we must consult Sir Isaac Newton. His **First Law of Motion** (the law of inertia) states that an object in motion will stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

While the satellite was in orbit, gravity was that unbalanced force changing its direction. But the moment gravity vanishes, the net force on the satellite becomes zero.

### The Final Trajectory

Without any force to bend its path, the satellite's inertia takes over completely. It will continue moving in the exact direction it was heading at the instant gravity disappeared.

Since its velocity vector was tangential to the circular orbit at that moment, the satellite will fly off in a straight line, **tangentially to the original orbit**.

Furthermore, because there is no force acting along its direction of motion to speed it up or slow it down, it will continue with the **same velocity** it had. It becomes a free-floating object in deep space, traveling in a straight line forever!

Animated Solution for Physics - Gravitation: If suddenly the gravitational force of attraction between earth and a satellite revolving around it becomes zero, then the satellite will

Select Answer:

Visualized Solution

$The Orbital Setup$

$Role of Gravity$

$Gravity Vanishes$

$Newton’s First Law$

$Final Conclusion$

$The Takeaway$

The Sigma Insight: Orbital Motion of a Satellite

The Delicate Dance of Orbit

The Thought Experiment

Newton's First Law Takes the Wheel

The Final Trajectory

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