Which best explains why a satellite accelerates?
It is constantly changing direction as it revolves around the Earth.
A satellite accelerates due to two main factors: gravity and changes in velocity.
Firstly, gravity plays a significant role in the acceleration of a satellite. The satellite is constantly pulled towards the center of the Earth by the force of gravity. This gravitational force causes the satellite to accelerate in a circular path around the Earth.
Additionally, changes in velocity contribute to the acceleration of a satellite. Satellites can change their velocity by firing onboard thrusters or using gravitational slingshots from other celestial bodies. These changes in velocity cause the satellite to accelerate or decelerate, altering its orbit or trajectory.
Therefore, the combined effect of gravity and changes in velocity leads to the acceleration of a satellite.
A satellite accelerates due to the gravitational force exerted by the Earth. This acceleration is towards the center of the Earth. The acceleration of a satellite is directly proportional to the mass of the Earth and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the satellite and the center of the Earth. This is based on Isaac Newton's law of universal gravitation.
To calculate the acceleration of a satellite, you can use Newton's law of universal gravitation, which states that the gravitational force is equal to the product of the masses of the objects divided by the square of the distance between their centers. The formula for gravitational acceleration is:
a = G * (M/R^2),
where "a" is the acceleration, "G" is the gravitational constant (approximately 6.67 x 10^-11 N(m/kg)^2), "M" is the mass of the Earth, and "R" is the distance between the satellite and the center of the Earth.
By plugging in the appropriate values for "G," "M," and "R," you can calculate the acceleration of a satellite.