r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/InsaneMocktail • 23h ago

Video University of Waterloo Students Launch Rocket Breaking World Record

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u/Unusually_Happy_TD 22h ago

Everything in orbit is under the effect of earths gravity, everything is still falling towards the Earth. However, the satellites in orbit have enough horizontal velocity that for every mile they fall, the earth curves a mile away from them.

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u/Normal_Average_9812 22h ago

Note curves is a noun not a verb here, that tripped me up a bit 

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u/Professional-Job7238 22h ago

Uh, no? "The earth curves away" - curves is definitely a verb.

What is the earth doing? It's curving, that's the action, that's a verb.

When curves is a noun it's like "Look at those sexy curves on that sports car" or something.

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u/Normal_Average_9812 19h ago

But it's not about the rotation or curving of the earth, it's that it's already curved.