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"Orbit" vs. "trajectory": mapping the path of words

Reviewed and edited by Lloyd Cooper 08/10/2024, 13:06
English.me team member
Orbit and trajectory. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both words relate to the path followed by an object in motion. They are often used in the context of space or physics when describing the movement of objects.

What is different?

Orbit usually refers to a regular, repeating path around a central body, such as a planet orbiting a star. Trajectory refers to the path followed by an object moving through space, which may not necessarily be repeating or circular.

Which one is more common?

Internet search results for orbit) and trajectory

Examples of usage

Orbit
  • The satellite was launched into orbit around the Earth.
  • The moon takes about 27.3 days to complete one orbit around the Earth.
Trajectory
  • The trajectory of the rocket was carefully calculated to reach its destination.
  • The basketball followed a high trajectory before entering the hoop.