- #1
michael879
- 698
- 7
I never really thought about this until the other day when someone asked me why something accelerating towards a planet doesn't make the planet lose mass. It makes sense according to conservation of mass/energy right? the object gains energy (speed) therefore the planet must lose energy or mass. I know that potential energy explains this energy gain, the object gains kinetic energy while losing potential. But doesn't this seem like some theory made up just to make conservation of energy work?