Question

A satellite of mass ????=238 kg is in circular orbit around the Earth at an altitude above the earth's surface equal to the earth's mean radius (6370 km). At this distance, the free-fall acceleration is ????/4. What is the satellite's orbital speed (m/s)?

Answer 1

Answer:

7915.47m/s

Explanation:

Parameters given:

Mass of satellite = 238kg

Earth's mean radius = 6370 km = 6370000 m

Orbital speed can be calculated using:

v = (GM/R)^½

where

G = gravitational constant

M = mass of earth

R = radius of earth

v = [(6.67408 * 10^(-11) * 5.98 * 10^24)/6370000]^½

v = 7915.47 m/s