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choyphin
Dec4-08, 04:00 PM
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
At what distance about Earth would a satellite have a period of 125 min?
G=6.673x10^-11
T=125 Min
Mass=5.97x10^24
Radius of Earth=6.38*10^6
2. Relevant equations
T=2pi*Square root of (R^3/constant*mass)


3. The attempt at a solution
125=2*3.14*Square root of ((6.38x10^6)^3+R^3/6.673x10^-11*5.97x10^24)
I got a negative #.... Which i know is wrong!

mgb_phys
Dec4-08, 04:10 PM
Put the units in - it will help !

choyphin
Dec4-08, 04:19 PM
I did that, but still got an unreasonable answer: 2.6x10^26

mgb_phys
Dec4-08, 04:48 PM
T=2pi*sqrt(R^3/GM)
so T/2pi = sqrt(R^3/GM)
Square both sides (T/2pi)^2 = R^3/GM
Finally R = cube root ( GM * (T/2pi)^2 )

Check the units (m^3 kg^01 s^-2 * kg * s^2)^1/3 = (m^3 )^1/3 = m

choyphin
Dec4-08, 05:09 PM
Is the answer 106.6 KM? Thanks so much for the explanations by the way!

mgb_phys
Dec4-08, 05:27 PM
I think you have a slight mistype there, do you have T in seconds?
Remember that the result is the radius of the orbit from the centre of the Earth - if you want the altitude you need to subtract the radius of the Earth.