- #1
Biker
- 416
- 52
Hello, I was reading an article about how planets and the sun orbit a point in our solar system which is really close to the sun as known as barycenter or center of mass
To just make things clearer, Why not take the example of the moon and earth...?
I have searched about it but I didn't find my answer. So I thought my favorite forum will help me.
This is how I explained it. The Earth and the moon are attracted to each other so that makes the moon orbits the Earth in elliptical shape. However the gravitational force also affects the Earth so it makes it also move in an elliptical orbit because as it moves in orbit it attracts the Earth too.
But explaining it with this way doesn't seem to clarify why the orbit exactly at the center of mass not at any random point... and that is what I need help with.. Also if the way is wrong, Please explain it precisely.
Thanks in advance.
To just make things clearer, Why not take the example of the moon and earth...?
I have searched about it but I didn't find my answer. So I thought my favorite forum will help me.
This is how I explained it. The Earth and the moon are attracted to each other so that makes the moon orbits the Earth in elliptical shape. However the gravitational force also affects the Earth so it makes it also move in an elliptical orbit because as it moves in orbit it attracts the Earth too.
But explaining it with this way doesn't seem to clarify why the orbit exactly at the center of mass not at any random point... and that is what I need help with.. Also if the way is wrong, Please explain it precisely.
Thanks in advance.