Question

One student argues that a satellite in orbit is in free fall because the satellite keeps falling toward Earth. Another says a satellite in orbit is not in free fall because the acceleration due to gravity is not 9.80m/s^2. With whom do you agree with and why?; Many satellites are placed in geosynchronous orbits. What is special about these orbits? For a global communication network, how many of these satellites would be needed?

a) Agree with the first student, as free fall is constant acceleration.
b) Agree with the second student, as free fall implies 9.80m/s^2.
c) Geosynchronous orbits maintain a fixed position relative to Earth.
d) Geosynchronous orbits are characterized by high eccentricity.

Answer 1

A satellite in orbit is in free fall because the gravitational force is the only force acting on it, causing it to continuously fall towards Earth while maintaining its orbital path. The acceleration due to gravity is not always 9.80 m/s^2 and depends on the mass of the planetary body and the distance from its center. Geosynchronous orbits allow satellites to stay fixed relative to a specific location on Earth's surface, making them useful for global communication. A minimum of three geosynchronous satellites is typically needed for a global communication network.

Step-by-step explanation:

I agree with the first student who argues that a satellite in orbit is in free fall because the satellite keeps falling toward Earth. Free fall is defined as the state of motion where an object is in the influence of gravity alone, without any other forces acting on it. In the case of a satellite in orbit, the gravitational force is the only force acting on it, causing it to continuously fall towards Earth while also maintaining its orbital path.

It is important to note that the acceleration due to gravity is not always 9.80 m/s^2. The acceleration due to gravity depends on the mass of the planetary body and the distance from its center. In the case of satellites in orbit around Earth, the acceleration due to gravity is less than 9.80 m/s^2 because the gravitational force decreases as the satellite moves farther away from the Earth's surface.

Geosynchronous orbits are special because satellites in these orbits are positioned at an altitude of approximately 35,786 kilometers above the Earth's equator. In this orbit, a satellite's orbital period matches the rotation period of the Earth, allowing it to remain fixed relative to a specific location on Earth's surface. This means that a geosynchronous satellite appears motionless in the sky, which is advantageous for purposes such as global communication.

The number of geosynchronous satellites needed for a global communication network depends on several factors, including coverage area, signal strength, and redundancy. Typically, a minimum of three geosynchronous satellites is required to provide continuous coverage over a large portion of the Earth's surface. However, more satellites may be needed to ensure global coverage and to handle high communication traffic.