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A satellite orbits Earth 350 km above Earth's surface. Calculate the free-fall acceleration at this altitude.

User Lebelinoz
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1 Answer

5 votes

Answer:

8.82 m/s²

Step-by-step explanation:

Formula for the free fall or gravitational acceleration is;

a = GM/r²

Where;

G is gravitational constant = 6.67 × 10^(-11) m³/kg.s²

M is mass of earth = 5.972 × 10^(24) kg

r is radius of earth = 6371 km

We are given that the satellite orbits Earth 350 km above Earth's surface.

Thus, new radius = 6371 + 350 = 6721 km = 6721000 m

Thus;

a = (6.67 × 10^(-11) × 5.972 × 10^(24))/(6721000²)

a = 8.82 m/s²

User EFanZh
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