Which factor is not needed when calculating the velocity of a satellite orbiting a planet?
O the mass of the satellite
O the orbital radius of the satellite
O the mass of the planet
O the universal gravitational constant
O the mass of the satellite
The factor that is not needed when calculating the velocity of a satellite orbiting a planet is the mass of the satellite.
The factor that is not needed when calculating the velocity of a satellite orbiting a planet is the mass of the satellite.
To calculate the velocity of a satellite in orbit, you need three factors: the orbital radius of the satellite, the mass of the planet, and the universal gravitational constant. The orbital radius is the distance between the center of the planet and the satellite. The mass of the planet determines the strength of the gravitational force acting on the satellite. The universal gravitational constant represents the proportionality between the gravitational force and the masses involved.
The mass of the satellite itself is not required because it does not affect the gravitational force acting on the satellite. The gravitational force only depends on the mass of the planet and the distance between the objects. Therefore, the mass of the satellite does not factor into the calculation of its velocity in orbit.