Forces - Astronomy

Question 1

A satellite orbits the earth at a height of 20200 km in a time of 11.8 hours. Calculate its orbital speed in km/s.

Answer 1

3.9

Question 2

How fast would a satellite move if it was orbiting at a height of 100km and each orbit took 1.44 hours?

Answer 2

Question 3

A satellite orbits the earth at a height of 35800 km in a time of 24 hours. Calculate its orbital speed.

Answer 3

Question 4

A satellite orbits the earth at a height of 3000 km in a time of one and a half hours. Calculate its orbital speed.

Answer 4

Question 5

How does a comet’s orbit differ from the orbit of a planet?

Answer 5

Comets have very long elliptical orbits. They orbit at different angles and do move move at a constant speed.

Question 6

What force keeps the Moon is orbit around the Earth?

Answer 6

Gravity

Question 7

Explain how gravity keeps the Moon in a circular orbit around the Earth.

Answer 7

The force of gravity pulls the moon towards it. Gravity does not make the Moon travel faster but changes the direction of motion keeping it in orbit around the Earth.

Question 8

What is the formula for orbital speed?

Answer 8

orbital speed = 2 x π x orbital radius / time