Question

Magine a satellite is orbiting the moon. How would the satellite behave if the moon were to suddenly disappear? A) The satellite would stop moving.

B) The satellite would continue to move in its orbital path.
C) The satellite would travel in a straight line into space.
D) The satellite would move toward the center of where the moon used to be.

Answer 1

Even if the moon was gone, the satellite would keep moving because the satellite is still going in a straight line, it's only being pulled into circles because of the gravitational force the moon holds, So the answer would be C.

Answer 2

C) The satellite would travel in a straight line into space.

Step-by-step explanation:

The gravity of the moon keeps the satellite in its orbit around the moon. The satellite has constant tangential speed but due to the gravitational force, it changes direction and moves in a circular orbit around the moon.

If the moon suddenly disappears, the satellite would travel in a straight path into the space due to its constant tangential speed.

Thus, option C is correct