What keeps a satellite up in its orbit?

What keeps a satellite up in its orbit?

So, How Do Satellites Stay in Orbit? A satellite maintains its orbit by balancing two factors: its velocity (the speed it takes to travel in a straight line) and the gravitational pull that Earth has on it. A satellite orbiting closer to the Earth requires more velocity to resist the stronger gravitational pull.

Why does the velocity of a satellite change as it orbits the earth?

Gravitational attraction provides the centripetal force needed to keep a planet in orbit around the Sun, and a satellite in orbit around a planet. An object moving in a circular orbit at a constant speed has a changing velocity. This is because velocity is a vector quantity that depends on speed and direction.

How does gravity make satellites revolve at a constant speed?

So, the satellite orbits the earth with a constant speed of 3.07km/s because the magnitude of its speed is constant. This acceleration is a result of earth’s gravitational force on the satellite. The acceleration is also known as centripetal acceleration.

What is the principle of launching satellite?

The fundamental principle to be understood concerning satellites is that a satellite is a projectile. That is to say, a satellite is an object upon which the only force is gravity. Once launched into orbit, the only force governing the motion of a satellite is the force of gravity.

What is the principle of launching a satellite derive an expression for orbital velocity and time period of a satellite?

The expression for orbital velocity is √g( R+h) = √gr. Orbital velocity is the velocity needed to balance the pull of gravity on the satellite with the inertia of the motion of the satellite, the tendency of the satellite to continue.

What is satellite explain the principle of launching a satellite?

The fundamental principle to be understood concerning satellites is that a satellite is a projectile. Once launched into orbit, the only force governing the motion of a satellite is the force of gravity. Newton was the first to theorize that a projectile launched with sufficient speed would actually orbit the earth.

What is orbital velocity of a satellite?

Orbital velocity is the velocity needed to achieve balance between gravity’s pull on the satellite and the inertia of the satellite’s motion — the satellite’s tendency to keep going. This is approximately 17,000 mph (27,359 kph) at an altitude of 150 miles (242 kilometers).

How does the orbital velocity of a satellite depend on the mass of the satellite?

Yes, the speed of a satellite does depend on the mass of the Earth. The total amount of (net) work done by gravity as a satellite makes a complete orbit is zero. The gravitational force has a component in the direction of the satellite’s motion as the satellite moves toward the Sun (or Earth, or whatever).

What is the orbital velocity of a satellite?

Orbital speed is the speed needed to achieve the balance between gravity’s pull on the satellite and the inertia of the satellite’s motion. This is approximately 27,359 km per hour at an altitude of 242 km. Without gravity, the inertia of the satellite will carry it off into space.

What is orbital speed of satellite?

What is principle of launching a satellite?

What happens if a satellite goes too slowly?

On the other hand, if the satellite goes too slowly, gravity will pull it back to Earth. At the correct orbital velocity, gravity exactly balances the satellite’s inertia, pulling down toward Earth’s center just enough to keep the path of the satellite curving like Earth’s curved surface, rather than flying off in a straight line.

How does gravity affect a satellite’s orbital velocity?

At the correct orbital velocity, gravity exactly balances the satellite’s inertia, pulling down toward Earth’s center just enough to keep the path of the satellite curving like Earth’s curved surface, rather than flying off in a straight line. The orbital velocity of the satellite depends on its altitude above Earth.

How does gravity affect a rocket launch?

Earth’s gravity is still pulling down on the rocket. When a rocket burns propellants and pushes out exhaust, that creates an upward force called thrust. To launch, the rocket needs enough propellants so that the thrust pushing the rocket up is greater than the force of gravity pulling the rocket down.

How fast does the Earth Move during a rocket launch?

Not only are Earth and the target constantly moving in their different orbits around the Sun, but our Earthly launch pad is spinning at about 1,000 miles per hour when we launch the rocket! Gather up whatever small balls you have.