• Jumuta@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    34
    ·
    edit-2
    2 months ago

    The moon has just a little bit more speed than the Earth can hold onto

    Unfortunately that’s not how orbital mechanics works :(

    If the moon had instantaneously more speed than the earth can hold onto (e.g. more centrifugal ‘force’ than balanced by the gravitational force), the moon will accelerate up, until the forces become balanced. This makes a elliptical orbit, like this:

    elliptical orbit gif

    Apparently the reason the moon is getting further away is that it’s gaining energy from earth’s tides

    anyway you should play ksp