A satellite is in orbit around the earth, traveling at a rate of 85.4 minutes per orbit. a space shuttle enters the same orbit, traveling at a rate of 93.6 minutes per orbit. the shuttle is .25 orbits behind the satellite, traveling toward it.

Let x be the # of orbits the shuttle makes before the shuttle and the satellite first meet. which expression below might represent the number of orbits the satellite makes in the same time?

a. x-.25
b. x+.25
c. x-.75
d. x +.25

First, they are wont meet, they have to be at different altitudes NOT in the same orbits, to have different periods. Duh.

Forgetting the above basic physics, and assuming the problem correctly states the physics of gravity, then

The distance the shuttle will travel is x+25 the distance the satellite travels. or, the satellite travels x-.25 the number of orbits the shuttle .

thank you soo much bobpursley! if you wanna help me more, i have more questions that im going to post regarding the same question =]

sorry!

fxc=ge

The shuttle cannot be in the same orbit as the satellite with different orbital periods.
The satellite is at a highly unlikely altitude of 28.7 miles altitude for a period of 85.4 minutes.
The shuttle is at a 289.3 mile altitude for a period of 93.6 minutes.
During each orbit of the satellite, the shuttle falls an additional further 45deg behind the satellite.
Just before the end of the second orbit of each vehicle, the shuttle reduces its velocity and goes into an elliptical transfer orbit with a period of 89.4minutes.
The shuttle meets the satellite at the perigee (lowest altitude) of theh transfer orbit.
The shuttle fires its engines to achieve the same circular velocity as the satellite.

All of this is hypothetical as no satellte would ever be launched into a 27.8 miles high orbit.

cuohqgle tioeax nemoywl yhaqxtus ntqby zwqyl zqxbdyci

It is clear that the given problem does not accurately represent a realistic scenario in physics. The statement that the satellite and the shuttle are in the same orbit but with different orbital periods is not physically possible. Satellites in orbit around the Earth have specific altitudes and orbital periods that are designed to maintain a stable orbit.

However, if we assume that the problem is set in a hypothetical situation, we can still address the question. The problem asks us to find an expression that represents the number of orbits the satellite makes in the same time as the shuttle.

Let's consider the given information:
- The satellite has a period of 85.4 minutes per orbit.
- The shuttle has a period of 93.6 minutes per orbit.
- The shuttle is 0.25 orbits behind the satellite.

To determine the number of orbits the satellite makes in the same time as the shuttle, we can use the concept of relative speeds. The relative speed between the shuttle and the satellite is the difference in their orbital periods. In this case, it is 93.6 minutes - 85.4 minutes = 8.2 minutes.

Since the shuttle is traveling towards the satellite, it will cover a certain distance in 8.2 minutes, which is equal to 0.25 orbits of the satellite.

Therefore, the correct expression that represents the number of orbits the satellite makes in the same time is:
a. x - 0.25 orbits, where x represents the number of orbits the shuttle makes before they first meet.

Again, it is important to note that this scenario does not follow the actual physics of orbital dynamics.