What is the speed of a synchronous satellite in orbit around the Earth?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the speed of a synchronous satellite in orbit around the Earth, focusing on gravitational constants and orbital mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply the gravitational formula for orbital speed but expresses uncertainty about the satellite's altitude. Other participants suggest using angular frequency to relate speed and radius, prompting questions about the meaning of the symbol used.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different aspects of the problem, including the necessary parameters for calculating orbital speed. Clarifications about angular frequency have been provided, but no consensus or resolution has been reached regarding the satellite's altitude or the application of the formulas.

Contextual Notes

The original poster notes a lack of information about the satellite's height above the Earth, which is essential for determining the radius used in calculations. The discussion also highlights the importance of understanding angular frequency in the context of orbital mechanics.

dxlogan187
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A rocket is used to place a synchronous satellite in orbit about the earth. What is the speed of the satellite in orbit?

I know that G= 6.67x10^-11 and the Mass of Earth is 5.98x10^24 kg.

So I'm to assume that I use the equation

v= Square root of([G*M]/radius)

But I don't know how high off the ground the satellite is. I know the radius of the Earth is 6.38X10^6 m, so I'd add that to how high above the Earth it is to get the radius.

Thanks for your time!
 
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The distance from the center of the Earth is the relevant one. However, you just need to recognize that [itex]\omega r = v[/itex] which you could use to eliminate r from your equation.
 
Tide said:
The distance from the center of the Earth is the relevant one. However, you just need to recognize that [itex]\omega r = v[/itex] which you could use to eliminate r from your equation.

What does the w symbol mean? Never seen that before :confused:
 
It's the Greek letter "omega" and it stands for the angular frequency. You may be more familiar with it in this form:

[tex]\omega = \frac {2\pi}{T}[/tex]

where T is the orbital period.
 

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