A satellite is in a circular orbit around the Earth. If the satellite's speed is

A satellite is in a circular orbit around the Earth. If the satellite's speed is increased, what will happen to its orbit?

A satellite is in a circular orbit around the Earth. If the satellite's speed is increased, what will happen to its orbit?

Step 1: Understand that a satellite in a circular orbit moves at a specific speed to stay in that orbit.
Step 2: Recognize that if the satellite's speed is increased, it will no longer have the right speed to maintain a circular path.
Step 3: Realize that increasing the speed means the satellite will start to move away from the circular path.
Step 4: Know that the new path will be an elliptical orbit, which is a stretched-out circle.
Step 5: Conclude that the satellite will now travel in an elliptical orbit around the Earth.

Orbital Mechanics – Understanding how changes in speed affect the shape and type of an orbit.
Circular vs. Elliptical Orbits – Differentiating between circular and elliptical orbits based on velocity changes.