Why doesn't the moon fall into the sun? A Sam Burrell song

[planetdarwin]

I was wondering how far away from Earth you'd have to send an object before it started falling into the Sun. Using some online gravity calculators, I got the answer, and it was only half the distance to the moon. WTF? So why doesn't the moon fall into the Sun? I'm guessing it has something to do with the orbits. I don't quite get it though. Is this what you're alluding to in the song?

[aclohesy]

Indeed it is. I refer you to the perhaps not as enlightening as advertised lyrics "But now I'm beginning to see; she's going around with me... Together we'll orbit..." - The moon is effectively falling towards the sun in exactly the same way the Earth is - in an orbital fashion. Stuff wants to carry on in a straight line, but the force of the sun is pulling both the earth and the moon towards it, we're just going round and round (only gradually getting closer) due to our initial velocity.

[planetdarwin]

Yet things closer to the Sun must move faster to maintain this balanced of orbit (and slower farther out). The only difference in speed orbiting the Sun can be the speed and direction of the moon around Earth. Yet Earth orbits CCW, and so does the moon, so when the moon is closer to the sun it's moving slower (around the sun) than the Earth. Still seems like it goes against the oribiting balance, and should move toward the sun.

[wolf1isgood]

hahah xD love the song:P

[aclohesy]

Apologies from the editor - the chief lyricist at the end should be credited as Katie Slusar. And what wonderful lyrics they were, too.

[YeOldeMunger]

Entertaining AND informative.