Question

What would happen to a satellite if it’s orbit speed was reduced by half? Also how about if it doubled?

Answer 1

For finding the orbital speed of the satellite we can say that the centripetal force for the circular motion of satellite is provided by the gravitational force of earth

so here we can say

`F_g = (mv^2)/(r)`

`(GMm)/(r^2) = (mv^2)/(r)`

now we will have

`v = \sqrt{(GM)/(r)}`

now here we will say that orbital speed of the satellite is inversely depends on the orbital radius

So here if orbital speed is half then as per above relation we can say that orbital distance will become four times

Also we can say that if orbital speed is double then orbital distance will become one fourth of initial distance.