Question

Nasa is expected to send a 2600 kg satellite 450 km above the earth surface.

A) what is its radius?

B) what speed will it have?( Hint: earth mass is 5.97 x 10²⁴ kg)

C) what is its orbital period?

D) what is its radial acceleration?

Answer 1

A) The radius of the orbit (Earth's radius is 6370 km):

$$R=R_E+H=6.82·10^6\text{ m}.$$

B) The speed:

$$v=\sqrt\dfrac{GM_E}{R}=7643\text{ m/s}.$$

C) The orbital period:

$$T=\dfrac{2\pi R}{v}=1\text{ h 33 min 27 s}.$$

D) The centripetal acceleration:

$$a_c=\dfrac{v^2}{R}=8.57\text{ m/s}^2.$$