Question

An earth satellite moves in a circular orbit at a speed of 4000 m/s.

A) The satellite is accelerating.
B) The satellite is moving at a constant speed.
C) The satellite is slowing down.
D) The satellite is stationary.

Answer 1

The satellite is moving at a constant speed but accelerating towards the center of the circular orbit.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is B) The satellite is moving at a constant speed. When the satellite moves in a circular orbit, its speed remains constant, but its velocity is continuously changing because velocity includes both speed and direction. The satellite is constantly changing direction towards the center of the circular orbit, which is why it is considered to be accelerating even though its speed is constant.