Satellite in Orbit? - Acceleration & Height of Spy Satellite

  • Thread starter Thread starter wolly6973
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Orbit Satellite
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a spy satellite in circular orbit around Earth, specifically focusing on determining its height above the Earth's surface and its acceleration. The original poster expresses uncertainty about how to approach the problem due to perceived insufficient information.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between centripetal force and gravitational force, leading to the formulation of equations involving the satellite's orbital radius and period. Some participants question the correctness of their derived equations and the necessary conversions for the period.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of the equations related to orbital mechanics. Some participants have provided equations and attempted to clarify the steps needed to solve for the radius, while others are questioning their calculations and the interpretation of the equations.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the need to convert the orbital period from hours to seconds and clarify the notation in the equations being used. There is an emphasis on ensuring all variables are correctly accounted for in the calculations.

wolly6973
Messages
15
Reaction score
0
A spy satellite is in circular orbit around Earth. It makes one revolution in 6.04 hours.
(a) How high above Earth's surface is the satellite?
(b) What is the satellite's acceleration?

I really have no idea what to do on this. All of the equations that I have, I cannot solve because I don't have enough info. Anything that anyone can do to get me started would be greatly appreciated.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
satellite's centripetal force = gravitational force
mv^2/R = GMm/R^2
v^2 = GM/R
R = GM/v^2
also ...
v = 2pi*R/T

you now have all the necessary data and equations to solve for R.

remember that R is the distance between the satellite's and Earth's respective center of masses, T is the orbital period in seconds, G is the universal gravitation constant, and M is the mass of the earth.
 
So I get the equation narrowed down to R^3=(T^2*G*M)/(2pi^2). But I can't seem to get it to work out to the correct answer? Did i mess something up?
 
So I get the equation narrowed down to R^3=(T^2*G*M)/(2pi^2). But I can't seem to get it to work out to the correct answer? Did i mess something up?

For one, the '2' with the 2pi is squared along with the pi (as its written above, it looks like only the pi is squared), so the demoninator should be 4pi^2. The period T should be converted from 6.04 hours to seconds, and to get R, the cube root of the right hand side of the equation must be computed.
 

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K