If a satellite's speed is less than the required orbital speed, what will happen?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
If a satellite's speed is less than the required orbital speed, what will happen?
It will remain in orbit.
It will fall back to Earth.
It will escape into space.
It will move to a higher orbit.
If a satellite's speed is less than the required orbital speed, it will not have enough centripetal force to maintain its orbit and will fall back to Earth.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: If a satellite's speed is less than the required orbital speed, what will happen?
Solution: If a satellite's speed is less than the required orbital speed, it will not have enough centripetal force to maintain its orbit and will fall back to Earth.
Steps: 7
Step 1: Understand that satellites need to move at a specific speed to stay in orbit around the Earth.
Step 2: Recognize that this specific speed is called the 'orbital speed.'
Step 3: If a satellite's speed is less than this orbital speed, it means it is moving too slowly.
Step 4: A satellite needs enough speed to create a force that keeps it in orbit, called 'centripetal force.'
Step 5: If the satellite is too slow, it won't generate enough centripetal force.
Step 6: Without enough centripetal force, the satellite cannot stay in orbit and will start to fall towards the Earth.
Step 7: Eventually, the satellite will descend and may crash back to the Earth's surface.
