Homework Help: physics

Posted by Kelsey on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 6:39pm.

A satellite moves in a circular orbit around Earth at a speed of 4390 m/s
(a) Determine the satellite's altitude above the surface of Earth.(meters)

(b) Determine the period of the satellite's orbit.
(hours)

I used the equation M(sattelite)V^2/r = M(sattelite)(Mass(earth)G/r^2

and tried to solve for r by canceling out one r and the M(sattelite) which gave me

r = GM(earth)/v^2

the answer i keep getting is 20,592,718.12m

but it is not right....

physics - drwls, Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 7:55pm
Have you tried subtracting the radius of the Earth? They asked for the altitude. "r" is the distance from the center of the Earth.
physics - Kelsey, Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 7:58pm
oh wow, thanks....

wish I would have thought of that.

it worked.

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