Circular and Satellite Motion Name:
Satellite Motion
Read from Lesson 4 of the Circular and Satellite Motion chapter at The Physics Classroom:
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/circles/u6l4b.cfm
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/circles/u6l4c.cfm
MOP Connection: Circular Motion and Gravitation: sublevel 8
1. Consider the rather strange-
looking orbiting satellite
shown in the diagram at the Fgrav
right. Draw a free-body
diagram showing the type
and direction of the forces
acting upon the satellite.
v2
2. For any satellite, the net force is equal to msat•a or msat• R . Since this net centripetal force is
supplied by the force of gravity, the force of gravity expression can be set equal to the net centripetal
force expression:
G•msat•Mearth v2
2 = msat• R
R
Algebraically manipulate this equation in order to derive an expression for the speed (v) of an
orbiting satellite. PSAYW
Divide through each side by mass of satellite (msat) and multiply each side by radius (R). This leads
to G•MEarth / R = v2. Then take the square root (SQRT) of each side to obtain the equation:
v = SQRT(G•MEarth / R)
The equation works for an earth-orbiting satellite. For a satellite orbiting another body (another
planet, the Sun, a moon, etc.), replace MEarth with the mass of that body that is being orbited.
3. Use your equation in #2 above to answer the following questions:
• If the radius of orbit of a satellite is increased, then the orbital speed would __decrease__.
• If mass of the earth is increased, then the orbital speed would __increase__.
• If the radius of the earth is increased, then the orbital speed would __not be affected__.
• If the mass of the satellite is increased, then the orbital speed would __not be affected__.
• If the radius of orbit of a satellite is increased by a factor of 2 (i.e., doubled), then the orbital
speed would __decrease__ (increase, decrease) by a factor of __1.41 (square root of 2)__.
• If the mass of the earth is increased by a factor of 2 (i.e., doubled), then the orbital speed would
__increase__ (increase, decrease) by a factor of __1.41 (square root of 2)__.
4. Use the equation in derived #2 to calculate the orbital speed of ... . (Mearth = 5.98 x 1024 kg)
Object Orbital Radius (m) Orbital Speed (m/s)
a. ... the moon 4 x 108 1000 m/s (998.8 … m/s)
b. ... a geosynchronous satellite 4.15 x 107 3.10 x103 m/s (3100.8 … m/s)
c. ... the space shuttle 6.55 x 106 7.80 x103 m/s (7805 m/s)
© The Physics Classroom, 2020 Page 1
Circular and Satellite Motion
5. The speed of a satellite is also found from its orbital period (T) and the radius of orbit (R):
2•p•R
v= T
Set the expression for orbital speed (v) above to the expression for orbital speed from question #2.
Algebraically manipulate the equation to obtain an equation relating orbital period (T) to the radius
and mass of the earth.
2•!•R/T = SQRT(G•MEarth/R)
Square both sides … 4•!2•R2/T2 = G•MEarth/R
Multiply both sides by R•T2 4•!2•R3 = G•MEarth• T2
Divide each side by G•M 4•!2•R3/(G•MEarth) = T2
Take square root of each side T = SQRT( 4•!2•R3/(G•MEarth) )
Analyze the following trip knowing the concepts and equations utilized in this unit. Insert your answers
to the following questions in the table below.
6. Suppose that the man pictured on the front side is orbiting the earth (mass = 5.98 x 1024 kg) at a
distance of 310 miles (1600 meters = 1 mile) above the surface of the earth (radius = 4000 miles).
a. What acceleration does he experience due to the earth's pull?
b. What tangential velocity must he possess in order that to orbit safely (in m/s)?
c. What is his period (in hours)?
7. Now suppose that the man is orbiting the earth at 22,500 miles above its surface.
a. What is the acceleration?
b. What is the tangential velocity (in m/h) at this location?
c. What is his period (in hours)?
8. Finally suppose that the man lands on the moon (Rearth-moon = 4 x 108 meters).
a. What is the moon's and its inhabitant’s acceleration (in m/s2) around the earth?
b. What is the tangential velocity (in m/s) around the earth?
c. What is the moon's period (in days)?
The results below can be obtained in any order but the first priority is to determine the radius of
orbit in meters. Once found, it is easy to determine v using the equation from Q#2. Then a can be
determined using a = v2/R. Finally, T can be determined using the Q#5 equation or v = 2•!•R/T.
Object Radius (m) Accel'n (m/s/s) vel. (m/s) T (hrs or days)
Man - 310 mi 6.896 x 106 8.39 m/s/s 7.61 x103 m/s 1.58 hrs
Man - 22 500 mi 4.24 x 107 0.222 m/s/s 3.07 x103 m/s 24.1 hrs
Moon 4 x 108 0.0025 m/s/s 1000 m/s 29 days
9. Explain why the man would want to orbit at 22 500 miles above the surface of the Earth.
At 22500 miles above the Earth, the man would orbit in 1 day. The orbital period matches the
rotational period of the Earth, making the satellite a geosynchronous satellite.
© The Physics Classroom, 2020 Page 2
