When we look at the night sky, the Moon appears to be hanging there motionless. Yet, it is constantly pulled toward Earth by gravity. So why doesn't it eventually fall onto us? The answer lies in a delicate balance between two forces: attraction and velocity.
First, we need to understand gravity. It is a universal force discovered by Isaac Newton: two objects with mass attract each other. Earth pulls the Moon, but the Moon also pulls Earth (though, given the size difference, the effect on us is less dramatic). Without any other force at play, the Moon would gradually move closer... and crash.
But the Moon isn't stationary—it moves rapidly around Earth at about 2,300 mph (3,700 km/h). It's as if it's trying to escape in a straight line. Earth's gravity constantly "pulls" it toward us, but since it keeps moving forward, it misses Earth every instant. This curved motion, maintained by the balance between speed and gravity, is an orbit.
We can compare this to throwing a ball very hard. If thrown gently, it falls quickly. If thrown harder, it goes farther. And if thrown fast enough... it would still fall, but onto an Earth that "curves away" beneath it, causing it to circle the planet indefinitely. This is exactly what happens with the Moon.
The Moon is thus in permanent "free fall" around Earth, but because our planet is round and the Moon has just the right speed, it never hits the ground. The same principle keeps artificial satellites in orbit: they're given a precise speed that balances Earth's pull.
This gravitational ballet has lasted for over 4 billion years, but it isn't frozen—the Moon is very slowly moving away from Earth at a rate of a few centimeters per year.