Question

If the gravitational force exerted by Earth on the moon were to suddenly disappear, then the moon would travel in a straight line on a path:

a)toward the centre of Earth, parallel to the radius of its original orbit

b)perpendicular to the radius of its original orbit

c)away from the centre of the Earth, parallel to the radius of its original orbit

d)perpendicular to the plane of its original orbit

Answer 1

so perpendicular to the orbit

Answer 2

sun attracts the moon. so aaronq is right.

Answer 3

it's not so much because the sun attracts it as it is because of it's tangential velocity. It stays in orbit because of the centripetal acceleration that keeps it in orbit with the earth, without it it would continue on a straight line tangent to the radius.

Answer 4

wait so perpendicular to the RADIUS of its original orbit or perpendicular to the PLANE of its original orbit? @aaronq @moradi312

Answer 5

think about it, it's spinning in the orbit like this

this is perpendicular to the RADIUS


perpendicular to the PLANE