You searched for: “orbit
orbit
1. The path of a celestial body or an artificial satellite as it revolves around another body; one complete revolution of such a body.
2. The curved path, usually elliptical, described by a planet, satellite, spaceship, etc., around a celestial body, as the sun.
3. The path of a body in a field of force surrounding another body; for example, the movement of an atomic electron in relation to a nucleus.
4. A range of activity, experience, or knowledge; a range of control or influence.
5. The usual course of one's life or range of one's activities.
6. The sphere of power or influence, as of a nation or person: a small nation in the Russian orbit.
7. In physics, the path traced by an electron revolving around the nucleus of an atom.
8. An orb or sphere.
9. In zoology, the part surrounding the eye of a bird or insect.
10. Either of two bony cavities in the skull containing an eye and its external structures; an eye socket.
This entry is located in the following unit: orb-, orbito- (page 1)
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electron orbit
The path of an electron or the path described by an electron as it circulates around around the nucleus of an atom.
This entry is located in the following unit: electro-, electr-, electri- (page 51)
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orbit
1. The path of one body in space around another body; such as, the orbit of the earth around the sun, or the moon around the earth.

When the two bodies are similar in mass, as in a binary star, both bodies move around their common center of mass.

The movement of objects in orbit follow Johann Kepler's laws, which apply to artificial satellites as well as to natural bodies.

2. The path followed by one object around another as a result of their mutual gravitational interaction.

As a result of the inverse square law of gravitation, planetary orbits are approximately conic sections.

This entry is located in the following unit: Astronomy and related astronomical terms (page 18)
Word Entries at Get Words containing the term: “orbit
synchronous orbit
A satellite whose orbital period around the central body is the same as the rotation period that the central body has a synchronous orbit.
This entry is located in the following unit: Astronomy and related astronomical terms (page 25)