Orbital Patterns
Elementary School
Definition
The regular paths that objects in space follow as they move around larger bodies under the pull of gravity. Planets orbit the Sun and moons orbit planets, generally along elliptical paths.
Worked examples
Earth follows an elliptical path around the Sun, completing one orbit every 365.25 days.
Earth's orbital pattern is nearly circular but slightly elliptical, with the Sun at one focus.
The Moon orbits Earth in an ellipse, taking about 27.3 days per revolution.
Moons follow orbital patterns around planets, just as planets orbit stars.
Common mistakes
- All orbits are perfect circles. → Orbits are generally ellipses, which can be nearly circular or more stretched out. Kepler showed planets follow elliptical paths, not circles, though some orbits are close to circular.
- Objects orbit because there is no gravity in space. → Objects orbit because gravity constantly pulls them toward the central body. Gravity provides the centripetal force that keeps objects in orbit rather than flying off in a straight line.
- The Sun orbits Earth. → Earth and other planets orbit the Sun. The Sun is at the center of our solar system; planets revolve around it, not the other way around.
Where you'll use it next
You'll apply orbital patterns when studying Kepler's laws of planetary motion, Newton's law of universal gravitation, satellite mechanics, and space exploration in physics and advanced astronomy.
See also
Reviewed by Pat Cheng, M.Ed. — StudyPug Curriculum Lead · Last updated June 6, 2026