which of the following would happen to the moon if gravity no longer affected it ?
a) the moon would continue to move on it's orbital path
b) the moon stop moving all together
c) the moon would move in a spiral toward earth
d) the moon would move in a straight line
To determine what would happen to the moon if gravity no longer affected it, let's examine each option:
a) The moon would continue to move in its orbital path: This option is correct. If gravity no longer affected the moon, it would still maintain its current velocity and direction. Due to its inertia, the moon would continue moving in its orbital path around the Earth.
b) The moon would stop moving altogether: This option is incorrect. Objects in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force, according to Newton's first law of motion. In this case, without gravity, there would be no force to stop the moon's motion completely.
c) The moon would move in a spiral towards Earth: This option is incorrect. Without the force of gravity, the moon would not be drawn towards Earth nor move in a spiral. Instead, it would move in a straight line.
d) The moon would move in a straight line: This option is partly correct. Without gravity, the moon would move in a straight line rather than along its curved orbit. However, this straight line would continue indefinitely unless another force acted upon it.
Therefore, option a (the moon would continue to move on its orbital path) is the correct answer, based on the understanding that objects in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force.
The only force operating on the moon is gravity.
Net force = rate of change of momentum = mass * acceleration
In the case of the moon the acceleration is centripetal, toward earth center, causing circular orbit around earth. Ac = v^2/R
If the gravity stops
no more acceleration
no more rate of change of velocity
so
goes in a straight line at whatever velocity it had when the gravitational string broke.