Why Doesn't the Moon Fall?

• Have you ever wondered why the Moon does not fall?

In fact, the Moon is constantly falling toward Earth due to the force of gravity. However, it also has a tangential velocity that allows it to move around our planet as it falls, keeping it in orbit without colliding with Earth. This balance between its motion and the gravitational pull is what allows the Moon to continue orbiting our planet.

In addition, the Moon moves away from Earth by approximately 3.8 centimeters every year. This phenomenon is caused by tidal interactions between the two celestial bodies ( ESA, n.d.; Vólquez, 2019).

References

ESA. (n.d.). La Luna, la Tierra y la gravedad. https://www.esa.int/kids/es/Aprende/Nuestro_Universo/Historia_del_Universo/La_Luna_la_Tierra_y_la_gravedad

Vólquez, M. (2019). “Mami, ¿por qué la Luna no se cae?”. DiarioDigitalRD. https://www.diariodigital.com.do/2019/06/02/mami-por-que-la-luna-no-se-cae.html

How to Cite This Article

Nocetti, F. A. (2021). Why doesn't the Moon fall? NabbuBlog. http://nabbublog.blogspot.com/2021/04/por-que-la-luna-no-se-cae-why-doesnt.html