What is the velocity of a satellite moving in a stable circular orbit about the Earth at a height of 3600 km?

1 Answer
May 17, 2018

#v=6320"ms"^-1#

Explanation:

#v=sqrt((GM)/r)#, where:

  • #v# = orbital velocity (#"ms"^-1#)
  • #G# = gravitational constant (#6.67*10^-11"N"# #"m"^2# #"kg"^-2#)
  • #M# = Mass of the orbited body (#"kg"#)
  • #r# = orbital radius (#"m"#)

#M = "mass of the Earth" = 5.97*10^24"kg"#

#r = "radius of Earth + height" = (6370+3600)*10^3=9970*10^3=9.97*10^6"m"#

#v=sqrt(((6.67*10^-11)(5.97*10^24))/(9.97*10^6))=6320"ms"^-1#