an astronaut is to be fire into an elliptical orbit about the eathr having a minimum altitude of 800km and maximum altitude of 5400km find the equation of the curve followed by the astronaut cosider the radius of the earth to be 6400km
using your numbers, we have
b = 6400+800 = 7200
a = 6400+5400 = 11800
So, just plug that into the standard equation for an ellipse, with center at (0,0)
answers
X^2/+Y^2
X^2/9100+y^2/6800=1
Which One Is Correct Respones? I Think Eden Answer Is True!
X^2/11800 + Y^2/7200 =1
a-c=7200
a+c=11800
Therefore a=9500
9500-c=7200
c=2300
b=√(a^2-c^2)
b=9217
Then you can drive the equation using the standard formula