- #1
benca
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- Homework Statement
- A satellite is designed to orbit earth at an altitude above its surface that will place it in a gravitational field with a strength of 4.5 N/Kg
a) Calculate the distance above the surface of the earth at which the satellite must orbit
b) Assuming the orbit is circular, calculate the acceleration of the satellite and its direction
c) at what speed must the satellite travel in order to maintain this orbit?
- Relevant Equations
- Eg = Gme/r^2
me = mass of the earth
a)
Eg = Gme/r^2
r = √Gme/Eg
r = √[(6.67x10^-11 N*m^2*kg^2)(5.98x10^24 kg)]/(4.5 N/kg)
r = 9.41x10^6 m
h = r2 - r1
h = 9.41x10^6 m - 6.38x10^6 m
h = 3.03x10^6 m
that's over 3000 km. Did I not use for right equation? Is Eg not 4.5 N/kg?
Also for b), isn't the force of gravity the centripetal acceleration? so wouldn't it be the same equation? ac = Gme/r^2
and I don't know what it means by direction. isn't it accelerating in a circular motion? This one has really got me confused.
Eg = Gme/r^2
r = √Gme/Eg
r = √[(6.67x10^-11 N*m^2*kg^2)(5.98x10^24 kg)]/(4.5 N/kg)
r = 9.41x10^6 m
h = r2 - r1
h = 9.41x10^6 m - 6.38x10^6 m
h = 3.03x10^6 m
that's over 3000 km. Did I not use for right equation? Is Eg not 4.5 N/kg?
Also for b), isn't the force of gravity the centripetal acceleration? so wouldn't it be the same equation? ac = Gme/r^2
and I don't know what it means by direction. isn't it accelerating in a circular motion? This one has really got me confused.