This could lead to a discussion of how a satellite launched without spin
about the earth eventually acquires moon-like spin.
From: Bob Sciamanda
Sent: Saturday, December 03, 2011 9:12 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Coriolis effect puzzlement
Keep clear the difference between a satellite (eg. the moon) which acts as
if it and the rotating mother body constitute a single, rotating rigid body,
and a satellite which maintains its orientation in space. The contents of
the latter satelite have no intrinsic spin; the moon type satellite
necessarily has spin. The C.G.s of both satellite types are in centripetal
acceleration.