Orbit vs. Revolution — What's the Difference?

The elliptical path followed by a celestial object around another.

The full cycle of an object around another, involving a repeated pattern.

A regular path that keeps objects gravitationally bound to a central point.

A complete cycle of an object circling around a central point.

The trajectory path of any natural or artificial satellite.

A journey made along a path, resulting in a full circle.

The curved path resulting from gravitational forces between two celestial bodies.

The circular movement of a celestial object over a specific time frame.

A stable trajectory maintained through precise gravitational balance.

The act of traveling a complete circuit around a gravitational center.

In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved trajectory of an object, such as the trajectory of a planet around a star or a natural satellite around a planet. Normally, orbit refers to a regularly repeating trajectory, although it may also refer to a non-repeating trajectory.

In political science, a revolution (Latin: revolutio, "a turn around") is a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government, typically due to perceived oppression (political, social, economic) or political incompetence. In book V of the Politics, the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BC) described two types of political revolution: Complete change from one constitution to another Modification of an existing constitution.Revolutions have occurred through human history and vary widely in terms of methods, duration and motivating ideology.

The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft round a star, planet, or moon, especially a periodic elliptical revolution

Orbital motion about a point, especially as distinguished from axial rotation

An area of activity, interest, or influence

A turning or rotational motion about an axis.

The cavity in the skull of a vertebrate that contains the eye; the eye socket.

A single complete cycle of such orbital or axial motion.

(of a celestial object or spacecraft) move in orbit round (a star or planet)

The overthrow of one government and its replacement with another.

The path of a celestial body or an artificial satellite as it revolves around another body due to their mutual gravitational attraction.

A sudden or momentous change in a situation

One complete revolution of such a body.

(Geology) A time of major crustal deformation, when folds and faults are formed.

The path of a body in a field of force surrounding another body; for example, the movement of an atomic electron in relation to a nucleus.

A political upheaval in a government or state characterized by great change.

A range of activity, experience, or knowledge.

The removal and replacement of a government, especially by sudden violent action.

A range of control or influence

Rotation: the turning of an object around an axis, one complete turn of an object during rotation.

Either of two bony cavities in the skull containing an eye and its external structures. Also called eye socket.

In the case of celestial bodies, the traversal of one body along an orbit around another body.

To move in an orbit.

A sudden, vast change in a situation, a discipline, or the way of thinking and behaving.

To revolve around (a center of attraction)

A round of periodic changes, such as between the seasons of the year.

To put into an orbit

Consideration of an idea; the act of revolving something in the mind.

(astronomy) A circular or elliptical path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, moon, or Lagrange point, especially a periodic elliptical revolution.

The act of revolving, or turning round on an axis or a center; the motion of a body round a fixed point or line; rotation; as, the revolution of a wheel, of a top, of the earth on its axis, etc.

One complete circuit round an orbited body.

Return to a point before occupied, or to a point relatively the same; a rolling back; return; as, revolution in an ellipse or spiral.

(uncountable) The state of moving in an orbit.

The space measured by the regular return of a revolving body; the period made by the regular recurrence of a measure of time, or by a succession of similar events.

(physics) The path of an electron around an atomic nucleus.

The motion of any body, as a planet or satellite, in a curved line or orbit, until it returns to the same point again, or to a point relatively the same; - designated as the annual, anomalistic, nodical, sidereal, or tropical revolution, according as the point of return or completion has a fixed relation to the year, the anomaly, the nodes, the stars, or the tropics; as, the revolution of the earth about the sun; the revolution of the moon about the earth.

(pinball) A path for the ball on the outer edge of the playfield, usually connected so that the ball entering in one end will come out of the other.

The motion of a point, line, or surface about a point or line as its center or axis, in such a manner that a moving point generates a curve, a moving line a surface (called a surface of revolution), and a moving surface a solid (called a solid of revolution); as, the revolution of a right-angled triangle about one of its sides generates a cone; the revolution of a semicircle about the diameter generates a sphere.

A sphere of influence; an area or extent of activity, interest, or control.

A total or radical change; as, a revolution in one's circumstances or way of living.

(anatomy) The bony cavity in the skull of a vertebrate containing the eyeball.

A fundamental change in political organization, or in a government or constitution; the overthrow or renunciation of one government, and the substitution of another, by the governed.

(zoology) The area around the eye of a bird or other animal.

A drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving;

(mathematics) A collection of points related by the evolution function of a dynamical system. Category:en:Curves

The overthrow of a government by those who are governed

The subset of elements of a set X to which a given element can be moved by members of a specified group of transformations that act on X.

A single complete turn (axial or orbital);

(informal) A state of increased excitement, activity, or anger.

(astronomy) To circle or revolve around another object or position.

To place an object (e.g. a satellite) into an orbit around a planet.

To move around the general vicinity of something.

To move in a circle.

(transitive) To center (around).

To continue to follow and/or engage with someone via social media after breaking up with them.

The path described by a heavenly body in its periodical revolution around another body; as, the orbit of Jupiter, of the earth, of the moon.

An orb or ball.

The cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated.

The skin which surrounds the eye of a bird.

The (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another;

A particular environment or walk of life;

An area in which something acts or operates or has power or control:

The path of an electron around the nucleus of an atom

The bony cavity in the skull containing the eyeball

Move in an orbit;

The lunar orbit is the path the Moon takes around the Earth, while a lunar revolution is a complete circuit around the Earth.

No, revolution refers to traveling around another object, while rotation means spinning around an internal axis.

An orbit defines the path shape that a revolution will follow when an object completes a full circuit.

No, orbits can be elliptical, parabolic, or hyperbolic, depending on the gravitational forces involved.

An orbit is maintained through a balance of gravitational pull and the object's forward velocity.

It's rare but possible if their orbits intersect or if gravitational changes disrupt their paths.

Yes, their revolution period depends on their specific orbit and speed.

No, each planet has a unique revolution period based on its distance from the Sun.

Yes, objects like artificial satellites can have orbits around both the Earth and the Sun.

Not entirely. Orbit refers to the path itself, while revolution is the act of completing the path.

Gravity is the force that keeps objects in orbit around each other.

More elliptical orbits result in varying speeds, affecting the time needed for a complete revolution.

Yes, the Moon's revolution around the Earth matches its rotation period, which is why the same side always faces Earth.

Common shapes include elliptical, circular, and hyperbolic.

Objects like comets may have hyperbolic orbits, often coming from the outer solar system.