Question

9. A weather satellite is launched from the ground and placed in orbit six times farther away from the earth's centre. The gravitational field experienced by the satellite in orbit is the field that it experienced on the ground?

a Six times
b. One sixth of
c. Thirty-six times
d. One thirty-sixth of

Answer 1

Answer: d

One thirty-sixth of

Explanation: Gravitational field or gravitational field strength obeys the inverse square law. The gravitational field is inversely proportional to the square of the earth distance. That is,

g = Gm/r^2

Where r = distance.

If weather satellite is placed in orbit six times farther away from the earth's centre, gravitational field will be one thirty-sixth of its initial value.

Therefore, the gravitational field experienced by the satellite in orbit is one thirty-sixth of the field that it experienced on the ground.