1. Velocity: Satellites are launched at a specific speed, called orbital velocity. This velocity is just enough to balance the Earth's gravitational pull, preventing the satellite from falling back to Earth. Imagine a ball tied to a string and swung in a circle. The tension in the string provides the inward force, similar to gravity, while the ball's velocity keeps it moving in a circle.
2. Earth's Gravity: The Earth's gravitational pull acts as the centripetal force, constantly pulling the satellite towards the center of the Earth. This force, along with the satellite's orbital velocity, keeps it in a continuous, curved path around the Earth.
Think of it like this: the satellite is constantly falling towards the Earth due to gravity, but it's moving forward at such a speed that it keeps missing the Earth. The combination of these two forces results in a stable orbit.
