Gravitational Fields and Satellites Flashcards
What is Kepler’s 1st Law?
All planets move in elliptical orbits
What is Kepler’s 2nd Law?
further away = slower
closer = faster
This is so that the area in the orbits are the same
What is Kepler’s 3rd Law?
The square of orbital periods of planets are directly proportional to the cubed mean distance from the sun
What is the equation for escape velocity?
v = √ 2GM/r
What is a geostationary orbit (GEO)?
Circles above the equator with a period of 24 hours. It appears to an observer on earth as in a stationary position.
What is a low earth orbit (LEO)?
They have a low and tilted orbits, that causes their periods to differ.
(Used for communication)
What is a medium earth orbit (MEO)?
Has no specific path (Used for navigation)
What is a polar orbit/ sun-synchronous orbit (SSO)?
Satellites that travel from north to south, in a relative position to the sun. It is seen from an earth perspective as passing the same point at the same time.
