Orbits of planets and satellites Quiz
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5 questions, one answer each
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1. A satellite moves from a circular orbit of radius r to one of radius 4r. By what factor does its orbital period change?
- A. 2
- B. 4
- C. 8
- D. 16
2. What is the total energy of a satellite of mass m in a circular orbit of radius r about a planet of mass M?
- A. −GMm/2r
- B. −GMm/r
- C. +GMm/2r
- D. +GMm/r
3. A satellite loses a little energy to atmospheric drag. What happens to its orbital speed?
- A. It decreases
- B. It stays the same
- C. It becomes zero
- D. It increases
4. Which satellite orbit stays above one point on the Earth's surface?
- A. Low polar orbit
- B. Geostationary orbit
- C. Any orbit with a 90 minute period
- D. Any circular orbit
5. Which factor does the escape velocity from a planet's surface depend on?
- A. The mass of the rocket
- B. The shape of the rocket
- C. The planet's mass and radius
- D. The time of day