What is the minimum speed required for a satellite to maintain a low Earth orbit
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the minimum speed required for a satellite to maintain a low Earth orbit?
7.9 km/s
11.2 km/s
5.0 km/s
9.8 km/s
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the minimum speed required for a satellite to maintain a low Earth orbit?
Correct Answer: 7.9 km/s
Step 1: Understand that a satellite needs to move fast enough to stay in orbit around the Earth without falling back down.
Step 2: Know that this speed is called 'orbital speed'.
Step 3: Recognize that for low Earth orbit, which is about 160 to 2,000 kilometers above the Earth, the required speed is around 7.9 kilometers per second.
Step 4: Remember that this speed allows the satellite to balance the pull of Earth's gravity with its forward motion.
