1. What does it mean to analyze force in 2D?
What we think two dimension is flat and pixelated. To analyze forces in 2D we must measure the x and the y components in a diagonal line. When we split the x and the y they are defined as two dimensions. To calculate these two dimensions we use sin, cos, and tangent. With that we can determine the Fnet for the x and the y.
2. How do forces cause objects to move in a circle?
In class we had a hover disk attached to a string and circled it around us. This force we used to pull the hover disk toward us is called centripetal force. As we are pulling the hover disk there is acceleration, but it is at a constant speed and accelerates through changing directions.
3. What does it mean to be in orbit? How do satellites orbit planets? How do planets orbit the sun?
To be in orbit means to constantly circling something. Just like in the hover disk, satellites are pulled through centripetal force circling the planet in gravity. Planets orbit the sun through a centripetal force of gravity and the satellites orbit the planets. If the sun was not there scientists say that our planet would go out of orbit and randomly fly off into space.
