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(Figure 1) A satellite that goes around the earth once every 24 hours is called

ID: 2197800 • Letter: #

Question

(Figure 1) A satellite that goes around the earth once every 24 hours is called a geosynchronous satellite. If a geosynchronous satellite is in an equatorial orbit, its position appears stationary with respect to a ground station, and it is known as a geostationary satellite. Find the radius R of the orbit of a geosynchronous satellite that circles the earth. (Note that R is measured from the center of the earth, not the surface.) You may use the following constants: The universal gravitational constant G is 6.67 times 10-11 N m2/kg2. The mass of the earth is 5.98 times 1024 kg. The radius of the earth is 6.38 times 106 m. Give the orbital radius in meters to three significant figures.

Explanation / Answer

mv^2/r=GmM/r^2, where M is the mass of the earth. v^2=GM/r r=GM/v^2 To find v, we have w=v/r So v=w*r. w=2*pi/Period. Period is 24 hours=3600*24seconds Period= 86400s w=7.27e-5 v=7.27e-5*r r=GM/(7.27e-5*r)^2 r^3=GM/(7.27e-5)^2 r=(GM)^1/3*1/(7.27e-5)^2/3 r=4.22e7m=42211.85km