Newton’s explanation of orbits: A cannon firing at different speeds. Shots A and B will fall to Earth, C will enter a circular orbit, D results in an elliptical orbit, and E is fired beyond “escape velocity”.
orbit_cannon
Newton’s explanation of orbits: A cannon firing at different speeds. Shots A and B will fall to Earth, C will enter a circular orbit, D results in an elliptical orbit, and E is fired beyond “escape velocity”.