Question

The Sputnik 1 satellite orbited Earth
(mass = 5.98 x 1024 kg) in a circle of
radius 6.96 x 106 m. What was its
period of orbit in seconds?
[?] s

Answer 1

Answer:

5778.1931

Explanation:

Given that:

Mass (M) = 5.98 x 10^24 kg

Radius (r) = 6.96 x 10^6 m

Gravitational constant (G) = 6.67 * 10^-11

Using the relation:

T² / R³ = 4π² / GM

Where T = period of orbit

T = 2π√(R³ /GM)

T = 2π√((6.96 x 10^6)³) /(6.67 * 10^-11) * (5.98 x 10^24)

T = 2π√((3.37153 * 10^20) / (39.866 * 10^13))

T = 2π √845715.64

T = 2π * 919.62799

T = 5778.1931