Question

A satelite in a circular orbit has an orbital period of 189 minutes . On Earth the satelite weighs 980 N. The earth's mass is 5.97 × 1024 kg, its equatorial radius is 6.3 × 106 m, and G = 6.67 × 10−11 N • m2/kg2.

How far is the satellite above the earths surface?

How far is it from the earths surface?

If the weight of the satelite on Earth were 8820 N instead of the 980 N given above how would the answer to part A change?

Answer 1

here, let the satellite is h height above the earth's surface

as T^2/r^3 = 4pi^2/(G * M)

(189 * 60)^2/(6.3 *10^6 + h)^3 = 4pi^2/(6.673 *10^-11 * 5.97 *10^24)

solving for h

h = 4.61 *10^6 m

the height above the surface of earth is 4.61 *10⁶ m

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the distance from the earth's surface is 4.61 *10⁶ m

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There will be no change as the time period and height above the earth is not dependent on the mass of satellite