Explain Newton's cannon

Step1:

Understanding Newton's Cannon

Newton's Cannon is a thought experiment proposed by Sir Isaac Newton in his work "Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica". The experiment is used to illustrate the concept of escape velocity.

Step2:

Concept of Escape Velocity

Escape velocity is the minimum speed an object must have to escape from the gravitational influence of a celestial body. In the context of Newton's Cannon, if a cannonball is shot with a certain speed, it will travel in a circular path around the Earth.

Step3:

Circular Path of Cannonball

If the cannonball is shot with a specific speed, it will travel in a circular path around the Earth. This is because the Earth's gravity pulls the cannonball towards it, but the cannonball's initial speed is enough to counteract this pull, causing it to move in a circle.

Step4:

Impact of Exceeding Escape Velocity

If the cannonball is shot with a speed that exceeds the escape velocity, it will escape Earth's gravitational pull and continue moving away from the Earth. This is because the initial speed is greater than the gravitational pull, allowing the cannonball to move in a straight line away from the Earth.

Step5:

Impact of Shooting Slower
If the cannonball is shot with a speed that is less than the escape velocity, it will fall back to the Earth. This is because the initial speed is not enough to counteract the Earth's gravitational pull, causing the cannonball to move in a curved path towards the Earth.