How Do Kepler's Laws Explain Satellite Orbits in Simulated Experiments?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Miriverite
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Laws Satellites
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on a homework problem involving an applet that simulates satellite orbits around a central body, emphasizing the application of Kepler's laws. The user is tasked with determining the orbital period of a purple satellite with an initial speed of 2.0, but is facing technical difficulties with the applet's display. They seek clarification on the applet's content, particularly regarding the information in the black text boxes, which reportedly show adjustable speeds for different satellites. The user expresses urgency as the assignment is due soon and they have not found a solution to the applet issue. Understanding the applet's functionality is crucial for completing the assignment effectively.
Miriverite
Messages
5
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


http://mp.pearsoncmg.com/probhtml/ActivePhysics/pt1a/Media/CircularMotion/SatellitesOrbit/Sim1.html
This applet shows satellites orbiting a central body from various starting distances. The mass of the central body is much greater than the masses of the satellites. You should think of this applet as data obtained in an experiment (e.g., a set of videos made by compiling data of observations of satellites).

Determine the orbital period Tp of the purple (innermost) satellite when it has an initial speed of 2.0. (For this problem, the units are chosen for convenience and may be ignored for the first few parts of the problem.) Note that simply watching one orbit and seeing how long it takes will not give you three significant figures. Try to think of a technique that will.

2. The attempt at a solution
I can't really attempt this problem since my computer doesn't seem as if it wants to display the applet properly. I don't really need help on solving the question itself; I just need someone to tell me what the applet entails and if anything appears in those black text boxes (are they numerical data? I can't see them). Please help; this is due tomorrow and I have found no method of getting this applet to display properly.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
The text boxes merely show the speed which happens to be adjustable;

Red - 4.0
White - 4.0
Purple - 2.0
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top