Calculating Altitude of Synchronous Orbit on Rotating Pluto

  • Thread starter Thread starter CinderBlockFist
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Kepler Law
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the altitude of a synchronous orbit for a satellite over Pluto, focusing on the gravitational and rotational dynamics involved in such a scenario.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the necessary parameters for the calculation, including the mass of Pluto and its rotational period. There are questions about the application of Newton's second law and the conversion of the rotational period into angular velocity.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided specific values for Pluto's mass and its period of rotation, while others express uncertainty about the next steps in the calculation. Guidance has been offered regarding the use of angular velocity and the second law of dynamics, but there is no clear consensus on how to proceed.

Contextual Notes

One participant notes a lack of familiarity with dynamics, which may affect their understanding of the concepts being discussed. There is also a mention of needing to express the period in seconds for calculations.

CinderBlockFist
Messages
86
Reaction score
0
A satellite hovers over a certain spot on the equator of (rotating) Pluto. What is the altitude of its orbit (called a "synchronous orbit")?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
CinderBlockFist said:
A satellite hovers over a certain spot on the equator of (rotating) Pluto. What is the altitude of its orbit (called a "synchronous orbit")?

You need to know:
1.Mass of Planet Pluto.

2.The 2-nd law of dynamics.

3.The law of gravitational attraction.

4.The period of rotation around its axis for the planet Pluto.

Daniel.
 
ok thanks brb , sheesh this is killing me.
 
Well i know

Mass of Pluto = 1.196 x 10 ^ 22 kg

Period of Rotation = 6.39 days

I don't know where i go from there?
 
U'll need the \omega=\frac{2\pi}{T}

So express the T (period in seconds).Then find the angular velocity and then appy the 2-nd law of dynamics...

Daniel.
 
Is 2nd law of dynamics, you mean Newtons 2nd law? Because I haven't taken dynamics class yet.
 
Yes,of course.Report any bad results,if any.

Daniel.
 

Similar threads

Kepler's law of periods problems about orbiting satellite
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
Using Kepler's laws to calculate elliptical planetary motion
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
1K
Kepler's 3rd Law Question finding how long a year is for Pluto
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Kepler's Third Law satellite problem
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
How much work is done when a satellite is launched into orbit?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
What Are the Formulas for Calculating Height in Synchronous Orbit?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
What is the K.E. of the satellite?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Centripetal Force / circular motion question
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
Infer diameter of Pluto from orbiting Charon
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Calculating Delta V for Orbit Change
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K