Orbiting: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The term 'orbit' comes from the Latin word 'orbita', meaning 'path' or 'track'.
• In ancient times, the concept of orbiting was tied to how celestial bodies moved across the night sky.

Science

• Gravity is the force that pulls an object toward another, keeping it in orbit around a star or planet.
• The speed of an object in orbit depends on its distance from the body it’s orbiting; closer objects move faster.
• Satellites are often placed in orbits to facilitate communication, gather data, and monitor weather.

Pop Culture

• Science fiction movies often depict space travel with ships orbiting planets, adding visual excitement to the concept.
• The song 'Space Oddity' by David Bowie features themes of exploration and orbiting, capturing the public's imagination about space travel.

History

• The first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, orbited Earth in 1957, marking the start of the space age.
• Isaac Newton's laws of motion and gravitation helped explain how objects move in orbit, revolutionizing physics.

Astronomy

• Moons are natural satellites that orbit planets, like how Earth's Moon orbits our planet.
• Different celestial bodies can have unique orbits, such as elliptical orbits, which are shaped like stretched circles.

Positioned at #20,676, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

• ...
• 20673 herding
• 20674 prong
• 20675 downed
• 20676 orbiting
• 20677 meekness
• 20678 advert
• 20679 mistook
• ...