How Do You Calculate Orbital Speed Using Kepler's Laws?

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To calculate orbital speed using Kepler's laws, start by determining the period of the orbit, which allows for the application of Kepler's third law to find the semimajor axis. Once the semimajor axis is known, you can calculate the total energy of the orbit using a formula that incorporates the semimajor axis and the involved masses. This total energy can then be equated to the kinetic and potential energy expressions, specifically 1/2 m v^2 - G m M / r, where r is the distance from the center of the Earth. Solving this equation will yield the required orbital speed. Understanding these principles is essential for accurately calculating orbital dynamics.
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Homework Statement



http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/2716/question11mediumjj8.jpg

This was an extra question for final exam some years ago, i hope that some one can direct me to obtain the right answer. I could not good find equations that I learn to answer this
 
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Navigate: Mechanics -> Orbits -> Kepler's laws. Then scroll down for more info on the subject on the page that you land on.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html"

Note that Kepler's third law is also applicable to the circular orbit of the space station.
 
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vle1 said:

Homework Statement



http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/2716/question11mediumjj8.jpg

This was an extra question for final exam some years ago, i hope that some one can direct me to obtain the right answer. I could not good find equations that I learn to answer this


You know the period you want.

Use Kepler's third law to find the semimajor axis of the orbit you need.

Once you know the semimajor axis, you know the total energy you will have at any point of your orbit (there is a simple formula giving the total energy at any point of an orbit in terms of the semimajor axis and the masses).

Now set that energy equal to 1/2 m v^2 - G m M /r where r is the initial distance from the center of the Earth. That will give you the speed you need.
 
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