Which of the following is true for a satellite in a low Earth orbit?
Practice Questions
Q1
Which of the following is true for a satellite in a low Earth orbit?
It has a very high orbital speed
It has a very low orbital speed
It does not experience any gravitational force
It is not affected by atmospheric drag
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which of the following is true for a satellite in a low Earth orbit?
Step 1: Understand what a satellite in low Earth orbit (LEO) is. It is a satellite that orbits close to the Earth, usually at altitudes between 160 to 2,000 kilometers.
Step 2: Recognize that the gravitational pull from the Earth is stronger at lower altitudes. This means that satellites in LEO experience a significant gravitational force.
Step 3: Realize that to stay in orbit, a satellite must move fast enough to counteract this gravitational pull. This results in a very high orbital speed.
Step 4: Conclude that because of the strong gravitational pull and the need to maintain orbit, satellites in low Earth orbit travel at high speeds.
