Question

select the true statements.
the moons forward motion is perpendicular to earths gravitational pull.
gravity keeps larger celestial objects in orbit around smaller ones.
the moon is drawn toward earth by gravity.
an orbit is a perfectly circular path that one object travels around another object.

Explanation:

• For circular orbital motion, the tangential (forward) velocity of an orbiting object is perpendicular to the centripetal force (here, Earth's gravitational pull) acting on it, so the first statement is true.
• Gravity causes smaller celestial objects to orbit larger ones (or both orbit a common center of mass, but larger objects do not orbit smaller ones), so the second statement is false.
• Earth's gravitational force exerts an attractive pull on the Moon, keeping it in orbit, so the third statement is true.
• Orbits are typically elliptical, not perfectly circular, so the fourth statement is false.

Answer:

• The Moon's forward motion is perpendicular to Earth's gravitational pull.
• The Moon is drawn toward Earth by gravity.