Math Problem Statement
A satellite in a circular orbit 1650 kilometers above Earth makes one complete revolution every 180 minutes. What is its linear speed? Assume that Earth is a sphere of radius 6400 kilometers. (Round your answer to two decimal places.
Solution
To find the linear speed of the satellite, we can use the following relationship:
Where:
- is the linear speed,
- is the radius of the satellite's orbit (which is the sum of Earth's radius and the altitude of the satellite),
- is the orbital period (the time it takes to complete one revolution).
Step 1: Calculate the radius of the orbit
The satellite's altitude is 1650 km, and the Earth's radius is 6400 km. Therefore, the total radius of the satellite's orbit is:
Step 2: Convert the orbital period to seconds
The orbital period is given as 180 minutes. We need to convert this to seconds:
Step 3: Calculate the linear speed
Now, we can substitute the values into the formula for linear speed:
Final Answer:
The satellite's linear speed is approximately 4.68 km/s.
Would you like further details on the calculation, or do you have any questions?
Here are some related questions to explore further:
- How would the satellite's speed change if its altitude were increased to 2000 km?
- What would happen to the orbital period if the satellite were closer to Earth?
- How do we calculate the gravitational force acting on the satellite in orbit?
- What is the relationship between the satellite's linear speed and the gravitational force?
- How can we determine the escape velocity from this orbit?
Tip: The orbital speed is directly related to the radius of the orbit and the time it takes for a satellite to complete one revolution. Understanding these relationships can help you solve problems related to satellite motion.
Ask a new question for Free
By Image
Drop file here or Click Here to upload
Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Circular Motion
Linear Speed
Orbital Mechanics
Formulas
v = (2πr) / T
Theorems
Orbital motion and its relationship with radius and time
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 10-12
Related Recommendation
Calculate Linear Velocity of Satellite Orbiting at 7050 km
Calculate Speed and Centripetal Acceleration of a Satellite in Circular Orbit
Calculate the Period of a Satellite Orbiting a Planet
Orbital Speed Calculation of a Satellite Orbiting Earth
Calculate Orbital Speed of a Satellite in Circular Motion