8. Centripetal Forces & Gravitation

A satellite orbits at an orbital period of 2 hours around the Moon. What is the satellite's orbital altitude?

Three satellites, A, B, and C, orbit Earth in circular orbits at different altitudes: Satellite A is closest to Earth, Satellite B is at a medium altitude, and Satellite C is farthest from Earth. Rank the satellites in order of increasing orbital period.

Which of the following would cause the greatest increase in the acceleration of a satellite in circular orbit around Earth ($a=\frac{v}{r^2}$ or $a=\frac{\mathrm{GM}}{r^2}$)?

Why must a geostationary satellite orbit Earth in exactly $1$ sidereal day?

A satellite of mass 5200 kg orbits the Earth and has a period of 6800 s. Determine the magnitude of the Earth’s gravitational force on the satellite.

Which of the following orbits has the largest semimajor axis?

Why does the force of gravity change the speed of a satellite in an elliptical orbit?

Approximately how long does it take the Moon to complete one orbit around the Earth?

Which statement best describes how $\mathrm{Earth}’s$ average orbital speed compares to that of the other planets in the Solar System?

Given that the International Space Station completes $15.65$ revolutions per day around the Earth, what is the approximate period of its orbit in $\mathrm{minutes}$?

Suppose that you used some geometry and kinematics to estimate that the Earth goes around the Sun with an orbital speed of approximately 30,000 m/s (60,000 mph), and that the Sun is approximately 150 million kilometers away from the Earth. Use this information to estimate the mass of the Sun.

How does the period $T$ of a satellite in a circular orbit change as the distance $r$ from the central object increases?

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is a NASA Moon-orbiting spacecraft in an orbit with an altitude of 50 km above the Moon’s surface. What is the period of the LRO as it orbits the Moon?

Two manned satellites are in circular orbits around Earth at different altitudes. If Satellite $A$ is in a lower orbit than Satellite $B$, which of the following statements is correct about their orbital speeds?

Which factor is not needed when calculating the velocity of a satellite in a stable circular orbit around a planet?