The Difference in Paths: Exploring Central Force & Gravity

In summary, the ball follows an elliptical path due to the central force of gravity, while earth moves in an elliptical path around the sun due the same force of gravity. However, these paths are different due to the different approximations of gravity being a central force.
  • #1
anuragchakraborty181
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Misplaced Homework Thread -- Moved to the School Forums
When we throw a ball in a projectile motion, the ball follows a parabolic path due to gravity. And we see that earth moves in an elliptical path around the sun due the same force of gravity. So why two paths are different due to the same force?
Explain using the idea of central force
 
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  • #2
Quite simple. When we throw a ball in a projectile motion (and assuming no friction,), the ball follows an elliptical path, just like the satellite, and not a parabolic path like you'd get from an accelerating flat surface instead of gravity from a planet.
 
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  • #3
anuragchakraborty181 said:
When we throw a ball in a projectile motion, the ball follows a parabolic path due to gravity. And we see that earth moves in an elliptical path around the sun due the same force of gravity. So why two paths are different due to the same force?
Explain using the idea of central force
Is this a homework question for you?
 
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  • #4
Very interesting question!
My guess is that both follow an elliptical path. The parabolic path being just a simplification for a flat earth.
A similar simplification is done for potential energy: pe = mgh
If one leaves the earth, the equation is no longer valid, as gravity is not a constant.
It's interesting how many of these there are. e = mc^2 is also a simplification of a more complicated equation.
 
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  • #5
The earth is large compared to how far you can throw a ball. So we can assume that the direction of the gravitational force is constant, like a flat earth model with gravity always normal to the earth's flat surface. Then the math works out to a parabolic path.

But for objects that are far away from the earth, like the moon, the direction of the force of gravity from the earth changes throughout the moon's path, always pointing towards the center. In that case the math works out to elliptical paths.

Another way of thinking about this is that a parabola can be a good approximation of part of an elliptical curve for a small enough portion of that curve.
 
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  • #6
anuragchakraborty181 said:
When we throw a ball in a projectile motion, the ball follows a parabolic path due to gravity.
Well, actually it's on an elliptical path around Earth: it's just Earth is not ideal enough for that and gets in the way for most of the path.
 
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  • #7
The more vertical you throw the ball the more parabolic the path is ; the more horizontal you throw the ball the more elliptical the path becomes. This gets messed up a bit by the Earth's rotation, of course, which induces a Coriolis effect.
 
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  • #9
hmmm27 said:
The more vertical you throw the ball the more parabolic the path is ; the more horizontal you throw the ball the more elliptical the path becomes. This gets messed up a bit by the Earth's rotation, of course, which induces a Coriolis effect.
The path is still elliptical in a non-rotating frame.

Of course, as has been said many times over, the path is parabolic only in the approximation that the gravitational field is constant. Furthermore, the path is elliptical only in the approximation of having a Kepler potential, ie, outside a spherically symmetric mass distribution (which the Earth and Sun are to quite good approximation—but not exactly and therefore the orbits are not exact ellipses)
 
  • #10
... and then there is the gravitational force of all the other bodies in the solar system.

Not to mention for a projectile ignoring air resistance.
 
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  • #11
PeroK said:
... and then there is the gravitational force of all the other bodies in the solar system.

Not to mention for a projectile ignoring air resistance.
Indeed. Compare the error from assuming constant gravity to the error from assuming zero air resistance. If one were going to refine the parabolic approximation, it would be efficient to worry about the largest errors first.

Alternately, if one had a strong enough arm to hurl a baseball at escape velocity, a parabolic trajectory would actually result, were it not for that pesky atmosphere.
 
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  • #12
jbriggs444 said:
Alternately, if one had a strong enough arm to hurl a baseball at escape velocity, a parabolic trajectory would actually result, were it not for that pesky atmosphere.
Parabolic? Hyperbolic?
 
  • #13
jbriggs444 said:
Alternately, if one had a strong enough arm to hurl a baseball at escape velocity, a parabolic trajectory would actually result, were it not for that pesky atmosphere.
Assuming the exact escape velocity. Any faster and it's a hyperbola.
 
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  • #14
Post #1 tells us to explain using "the idea of central force". I don't see that an idea can explain anything.
We can note that the parabolic approximation overlooks that gravity is a central force, so is likely to produce a different answer. Don’t see that any more can be said in that respect.
 

FAQ: The Difference in Paths: Exploring Central Force & Gravity

What is the difference between central force and gravity?

The main difference between central force and gravity is that central force is a force that acts towards or away from a fixed point, while gravity is a force that acts between two objects with mass. Central force is a type of force that is always directed towards or away from a central point, while gravity is a universal force that acts between all objects with mass.

How does central force affect the motion of an object?

Central force affects the motion of an object by causing it to move in a circular or elliptical path around a central point. The strength of the central force determines the speed at which the object moves and the size and shape of its path. In the absence of any other forces, an object will continue to move in a circular or elliptical path due to the presence of a central force.

What are some examples of central force?

Some examples of central force include the force of gravity between the Sun and planets in our solar system, the force of attraction between an electron and the nucleus in an atom, and the force of tension in a string attached to a spinning object. Other examples include the force of attraction between two charged particles and the force of repulsion between two magnets.

How is central force related to Kepler's laws of planetary motion?

Kepler's laws of planetary motion describe the motion of objects in orbit around a central body. The first law states that planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus. The second law states that a line connecting a planet to the Sun sweeps out equal areas in equal times. The third law states that the square of the orbital period of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit. These laws are a result of the central force of gravity acting between the Sun and planets.

What role does central force play in the study of celestial mechanics?

Central force plays a crucial role in the study of celestial mechanics, which is the branch of astronomy that deals with the motion of celestial bodies. The central force of gravity is responsible for the motion of planets, moons, and other objects in our solar system. It also plays a role in the formation and evolution of galaxies and other large-scale structures in the universe. Understanding central force is essential for understanding the dynamics of celestial bodies and predicting their future movements.

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