Question

A satellite orbits the Earth every 2 hours at an average distance from the Earth's centre of 8000km. (i) What is the average angular velocity of the satellite about the Earth's centre? (ii) What is the average speed of the satellite in its orbit? (iii) If its mass is 200kg, what is the centripetal force required to keep it in orbit (i.e. the force of gravity)?

Answer 1

i)ω=3600 rad/s

ii)V=7059.44 m/s

iii)F=1245.8 N

Step-by-step explanation:

i)

We know that angular speed given as

`\omega =(d\theta)/(dt)`

We know that for one revolution

θ=2π

Given that time t= 2 hr

So

ω=θ/t

ω=2π/2 = π rad/hr

ω=3600 rad/s

ii)

Average speed V

`V=\sqrt{(GM)/(R)}`

Where M is the mass of earth.

R is the distance

G is the constant.

Now by putting the values

`V=\sqrt{(GM)/(R)}`

`V=\sqrt{(6.667* 10^(-11)* 5.98* 10^(24))/(8000* 10^3)}`

V=7059.44 m/s

iii)

We know that centripetal fore given as

`F=(mV^2)/(R)`

Here given that m= 200 kg

R= 8000 km

so now by putting the values

`F=(mV^2)/(R)`

`F=(200* 7059.44^2)/(8000* 10^3)`

F=1245.8 N