Gravitational acceleration of a satellite

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SUMMARY

The gravitational acceleration of a satellite in orbit around the Earth is determined by the distance from the center of the Earth and the mass of the Earth, as per Newton's law of universal gravitation. The formula governing this relationship is F = Gm1m2/r², where m1 represents the mass of the Earth and m2 represents the mass of the satellite. The calculated gravitational acceleration at the mean radius of the Earth (6,371,000 meters) is approximately 9.8226 m/s².

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christyan
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I don`t understand the solution for the following question:
A satellite is in orbit around the earth. Consider the following quantities:
1. distance from the center of the earth
2. mass of the earth
3. mass of the satellite

The gravitational acceleration g depends on which of the above?

The solution is 1 and 2.

Newton's law of universal gravitation states that every mass in the universe attracts every other mass in the universe.
the equation is F= Gm1m2/r² where m1 is the Earth and m2 should be the satellite.
thank you.
 
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Welcome to PF!

Hi christyan! Welcome to PF! :smile:
christyan said:
Newton's law of universal gravitation …

How about Newton's other law (about acceleration)? :wink:
 
From an inertial (non-accelerating) frame of reference, then the rate of acceleration of the satellite towards the Earth is

gearth = F / m2 = G m1 / r^2.

gearth = 6.67428 x 10-11 x 5.9736 x 10^24 / r^2 = (3.9869479008 x 10^14 / r^2) m / s^2

At the mean radius of the Earth (it's surface), 6371000 m, g ~= 9.8226 m / s^2.
 

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