If a satellite is moving in a circular orbit, what is the relationship between its centripetal acceleration and gravitational acceleration?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
If a satellite is moving in a circular orbit, what is the relationship between its centripetal acceleration and gravitational acceleration?
Centripetal = Gravitational
Centripetal > Gravitational
Centripetal < Gravitational
No relationship
For a satellite in a stable circular orbit, the centripetal acceleration is equal to the gravitational acceleration.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: If a satellite is moving in a circular orbit, what is the relationship between its centripetal acceleration and gravitational acceleration?
Solution: For a satellite in a stable circular orbit, the centripetal acceleration is equal to the gravitational acceleration.
Steps: 5
Step 1: Understand that a satellite in orbit is moving in a circular path.
Step 2: Know that centripetal acceleration is the acceleration that keeps the satellite moving in that circular path.
Step 3: Recognize that gravitational acceleration is the force that pulls the satellite towards the planet it is orbiting.
Step 4: Realize that for a satellite to stay in a stable orbit, the gravitational force must provide the exact amount of centripetal acceleration needed to keep it moving in a circle.
Step 5: Conclude that in a stable circular orbit, the centripetal acceleration (which keeps the satellite in orbit) is equal to the gravitational acceleration (which pulls it towards the planet).
