ORBITING Meaning and
Definition
-
Orbiting refers to the movement of one celestial body around another due to their gravitational attraction. It involves the continuous circular or elliptical path followed by an object, such as a planet, moon, or artificial satellite, as it revolves around another object in space. The object being orbited is typically more massive and exerts a gravitational pull that keeps the orbiting object in its path.
Orbits can be stable, with the object continuously revolving around the central body at a constant speed and distance. Alternatively, they can be irregular or elliptical, causing the distance and speed of the orbiting object to vary over time. The concept of orbital motion played a vital role in the development of our understanding of celestial mechanics, initially elucidated by Johannes Kepler and later refined by Sir Isaac Newton's laws of motion and gravitation.
In the field of space exploration, artificial satellites are deliberately placed into specific orbits to carry out various tasks, such as communication, Earth observation, and scientific research. The study of orbital mechanics is therefore crucial in determining the precise trajectory and conditions required to achieve a desired orbit. Additionally, the term "orbiting" has also been metaphorically applied to describe relationships, particularly in the context of dating, where one person remains in close contact with another without fully committing to a committed romantic relationship.
Top Common Misspellings for ORBITING *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for ORBITING
Etymology of ORBITING
The word "orbiting" is derived from the noun "orbit". The noun "orbit" originated from the Latin word "orbis", which refers to a circle or a wheel. This Latin word was later adapted into the Old French "orbite" and eventually entered Middle English as "orbite" or "ourbit" during the 15th century. Over time, the term "orbit" came to describe the curved path that a celestial object takes around another object, such as a planet revolving around a star. Consequently, "orbiting" emerged as the verb form of "orbit" to describe the act of moving in such a curved path.
Similar spelling words for ORBITING
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
