How Is the Period of a Satellite Calculated?

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The discussion focuses on calculating the period of a satellite in orbit above a planet. Given the gravitational constant and the planet's surface gravity, the radius of the satellite's orbit is determined. The formulas for gravitational force and orbital velocity are applied to find the satellite's velocity. After calculations, the period is initially calculated as 6684.425 seconds, but the user later indicates they have resolved the issue. The thread highlights the steps and formulas necessary for determining a satellite's orbital period.
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[SOLVED] Period of a satellite

1. Given: G = 6.67 x 10^-11 N m^2/ kg^2
The acceleration of gravity on the surface of a planet of radius R = 4910 km is 11.8 m/s^2. What is the period T of a satellite in circular h = 8445.2 km above the surface? Answer in units of s.



2. F = GMm/r^2
F = ma = mv^2/r
v = sqrt(GM/r)
T = 2pi*r/v



3. i got r = 13355200 m; a = 11.8 m/s^2; that gave me the velocity = 12553.54m/s. i plugged it into the period equation and got T = 6684.425s but its wrong
 
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nvm i got it
 

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