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Free falling in outer space - Matt J. Carlson

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If you were to orbit the Earth, you’d experience the feeling of free fall, not unlike what your stomach feels before a big dive on a roller coaster. With a little help from Sir Isaac Newton, Matt J. Carlson explains the basic forces acting on an astronaut and why you probably shouldn't try this one at home.

Gravity actually determines how most of the universe moves about. Describe how our ideas of free fall can be related to the orbits of the planets in our solar system. Extra credit for explaining why Jupiter (the heaviest planet) will likely end up causing Mercury to be booted out of the solar system.

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