Question

The International Space Station orbits approximately 250 miles above the surface of the Earth. If the station makes 16 orbits per day, what is the linear velocity, in miles per hour, of the International Space Station? Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use the following information: radius of Earth ≈ 3,960 miles and 1 mile = 5,280 feet.

Answer 1

17,635

Explanation:

did on edge

Answer 2

The station orbits 250 miles above the surface of earth.
So, the radius of the orbit with respect to the center of Earth will be = r = 250 + 3960 = 4210 miles

Angular velocity = w =16 orbits per day = 16 x 2π radians per day

w = 32π radians per day
w = 32π/24 radians per hour = 4π/3 radians per hour

Linear speed = v = r w

v = 4210 x 4π/3 miles per hour

v = 17,635 miles per hour