Orbits of planets and satellitesAQA A-Level Physics: Mind map

Exam questions on Orbits of planets and satellites

1. An Earth-observation satellite is in a circular orbit 600 km above the Earth's surface. Take the Earth's mass as 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg and its radius as 6.37 × 10⁶ m.
   Calculate the orbital speed of the satellite. Use $G = 6.67 \times 10^{-11}\ \mathrm{N\,m^2\,kg^{-2}}$.2 marks
2. A telecommunications company operates a satellite in a geostationary orbit to relay television signals. A weather-monitoring agency separately uses satellites in low polar orbits.
   Explain why a geostationary satellite must orbit in the plane of the equator.2 marks
3. A student investigates the relationship between the orbital period and the orbital radius of satellites moving in circular orbits around the Earth, which has mass 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg.
   Derive the relationship between the orbital period T and orbital radius r for a satellite in a circular orbit, showing that $T^2 \propto r^3$.3 marks