Satellites in orbit such that they look like they don't move

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    Orbit Satellites
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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of geosynchronous satellites, specifically focusing on determining the angular speed required for a satellite to maintain a fixed position above the Earth's equator. Participants are exploring the relationship between angular speed, orbital radius, and the period of revolution.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need for additional equations to relate angular speed and orbital radius. There is a focus on the period of revolution and how it connects to angular speed. Questions arise about the necessary information to determine the radius.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants offering guidance on how to approach the problem. Some suggest reworking the solution equation and extracting more information from the problem statement. There is no explicit consensus yet, but productive lines of reasoning are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the challenge of determining the radius without additional information or equations. The problem constraints regarding the nature of geosynchronous orbits are acknowledged but not resolved.

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Homework Statement


Some communication satellites are put into a circular geosynchronius orbit in which the satellite remains above a certain postion on the Earth's equator as it orbits. Such a satellite would always be in the same position in the sky as seen from the transmitting or recieveing equipment of a communications broadcasting network. Find the angular speed of the satellites orbit necessary for it to reamin above the same point above the equator. What must be the orbitial radius of such a satellite?



Homework Equations


(GMm)\r^2=mw^2r
F=(GMm)\r^2


The Attempt at a Solution


I solved for w=squareroot(GM\r)
How am i to know what the radius is? I think i need another equation to input for the radius to find w. Then I can find the radius. Is this the right way to go?
 
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Another equation might be useful. Is there any information in the problem you haven't used? Is there any extra information you can extract from what you have used?
 
Your solution equation needs a rework.

What would the period of revolution, T, of such satellite be?

[tex]\omega = \frac{2 \pi}{T}[/tex]
 
but i don't know what the radius is
 
If you've got the period of revolution, [tex]T[/tex], you can calculate the angular speed with the formula in my previous post. The satellite completes [tex]2 \pi[/tex] radians (one revolution) during this time.
 

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