# Synchronous orbit

1. Oct 15, 2007

[SOLVED] synchronous orbit

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

A orbiting satellite stays over a certain spot on the equator of (rotating) Mercury. What is the altitude of the orbit (called a "synchronous orbit")?

The answer needs to be in km.

2. Relevant equations

I know the synchronous orbit is where the satellite has a period equal to the average roational period of the planet.

T^2 = ((4pi^2)/(GM))r^3

T would be the rotational period of Mercury.

G is the gravitational constant.

M would be mercury's mass.

I would be solving for r.

3. The attempt at a solution

So far i have been plugging in numbers but nothing has been working. Should T be in years, days, hours, or seconds?

2. Oct 15, 2007

### Staff: Mentor

The units for the rotation period must agree with the units you use for G.

3. Oct 16, 2007

### thylow

Equation

The last I checked. the mass term is not in the equation. I'll answer other questions on my website listed in my profile

4. Oct 16, 2007

### Staff: Mentor

Mass is involved. Conceptually, greater mass means a tighter orbit. You can also check with dimensional analysis. The universal gravitational constant has units L3/M/T2. The right hand side of the equation in the original post, $((4\pi^2)/(GM))r^3$ has units T2, which agrees with the left-hand side.

You know you have to solve $T^2 = ((4\pi^2)/(GM))r^3$ for $r$. How did you go about doing this? What did you use for the period of Mercury?

5. Oct 16, 2007

If I am understanding synchronous orbit correctly I am using the average rotational period of mercury which is 58.7 days.

(((T^2)(GM))/4pi^2))^1/3 = r I know i need to get unitsof meters in the end but can't figure out what to use for T in order to end up with just those units.

6. Oct 16, 2007

### Staff: Mentor

You have to use consistent units. For example, if you use 7.6159e-05 furlong3/fortnight2/stone as the value for G, you had better express the mass of Mercury in stones and its period in fortnights. The result will be in furlongs. Suppose instead you use the standard value for G, 6.673e-11 m3/s2/kg. What units do you think you need to use for the period in this case?

7. Oct 16, 2007

seconds?

The kg would be divided out. G(T) would leave m^3

8. Oct 16, 2007

Ok thanks for your help I figured it out.

9. Oct 16, 2007

### Staff: Mentor

You're welcome.