If the radius of the orbit of a satellite is doubled, what happens to its orbita
Practice Questions
Q1
If the radius of the orbit of a satellite is doubled, what happens to its orbital speed?
It remains the same
It doubles
It increases by a factor of √2
It decreases by a factor of √2
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If the radius of the orbit of a satellite is doubled, what happens to its orbital speed?
Correct Answer: Orbital speed decreases by a factor of √2.
Step 1: Understand that the orbital speed of a satellite is determined by the formula v = √(GM/r), where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the planet, and r is the radius of the orbit.
Step 2: Identify what happens when the radius r is doubled. If r becomes 2r, we will substitute this into the formula.
Step 3: Substitute 2r into the formula: v = √(GM/(2r)).
Step 4: Simplify the equation: v = √(GM/r) * √(1/2).
Step 5: Recognize that √(1/2) is the same as 1/√2, which means the new speed is v = (1/√2) * √(GM/r).
Step 6: Conclude that the orbital speed decreases by a factor of √2 when the radius is doubled.
Orbital Mechanics – Understanding the relationship between orbital radius and speed of a satellite.
Gravitational Force – The role of gravitational force in determining orbital speed.
Mathematical Relationships – Applying the formula for orbital speed and understanding how changes in radius affect speed.
