2. A satellite is placed in a geosynchronou\'s orbit. In this equatorial orbit w
ID: 1791438 • Letter: 2
Question
2. A satellite is placed in a geosynchronou's orbit. In this equatorial orbit with a period of 24 hours, the satellite hovers over one point on the equator. Which statement is true for a satellite in such an orbit? a. There is no gravitational force on the satellite. b. There is no acceleration toward the center of the Earth. c. The satellite is in a state of free fall toward the Earth. d. There is a tangential force that helps the satellite ke @The force toward the center of the Earth is balanced by a force away from the center of the Earth. h is balanced by a force away from the center of the Earth.Explanation / Answer
the statement C is the correct answer.
that means the satellite is in a state of free fall toward the earth.
In a uniform gravitational field, ballistic motion of a projectile results in a parabolic path. Earth is big enough (relative to us) that locally we can treat the gravitational field as a uniform one. which is an assumption for uniform gravitational fields. But in fact earth is round, and its gravitational field is not uniform. The next approximation is a spherically symmetric field. In such a field, the paths followed by objects relative to earth are conic sections: ellipses, parabolae, and hyperbolae. Which type of path occurs depends on the energy of the system, but in the absence of any other forces, in each of these cases the object is in free fall.
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