Mass of a planet given it's satellites orbital radius & period

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the mass of a planet based on the orbital radius and period of a satellite. The original poster attempts to use gravitational equations to derive the mass but arrives at a different value than the answer key suggests.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of gravitational equations and the relationship between orbital velocity, radius, and mass. There are attempts to identify potential errors in calculations and reasoning.

Discussion Status

Some participants offer insights into possible mistakes in the original poster's calculations and suggest following specific steps to arrive at the correct answer. There is an ongoing exploration of the reasoning behind the discrepancies in the results.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the original poster's uncertainty regarding their calculations and the potential for errors in mathematical execution. The discussion reflects a lack of consensus on the exact nature of the mistake made.

bbhh
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Ah, please, someone help me. I've been working on this problem for half an hour, it's the last question on my review before my test, which i want to write right now (correspondence).

Homework Statement



If a satellite requires 2.5 h to orbit a planet with an orbital radius of 2.6 x 10^5 m, what is the mass of the planet?

Homework Equations



ac = v^2/r = 4 pi^2 r / T^2

v = sqrt(GM / r)

(... at least that's what i think?)

The Attempt at a Solution



1. I attempted to find the velocity from the radius (2.6*10^5) and the time (2.5hr*60*60=9000s)

v^2/r = 4 pi^2 r / T^2
v^2 = 4 pi^2 r^2 / T^2

v^2 = 4 * 3.14^2 * 2.6*10^5 / 9000^2
v=.356m/s

2. I used v= sqrt(GM/r) to find the mass.

.356= sqrt(6.67*10^-11m/2.6*10^5)
.127=6.67*10^-11m/2.6*10^5
330200=6.67*10^-11m
m= 5*10^15kg

the answer key says it's 1.3*10^20kg
 
Last edited:
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The answer key is correct, I am unsure about what mistake was made in the attempted solution...maybe a calculator entering issue...
v^2/r==GmP/r^2
4pi^2/T^2==GmP/r^3
4pi^2r^3/T^2*G==Mp
Mp==1.284x10^20 kg.
 
Last edited:
i appreciate your help but i think i need a bit more in depth of an explanation.

"v is actually the square root of GMp/r"... isn't that what i did?... see... a little lost.
 
bbhh said:
i appreciate your help but i think i need a bit more in depth of an explanation.

"v is actually the square root of GMp/r"... isn't that what i did?... see... a little lost.

Yes, when I reread your post, that is what you did...I don't know why you didn't get the right answer...However, if you follow the steps I showed in my previous post, you will get the correct answer.
 
hmm thanks. i wonder if i just screwed up my maths somewhere along the way. i checked it so many times though... weird
 

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