A satellite has a mass of 5950 kg and is in a circular orbit 3.80 105 m above the surface of a planet. The period of the orbit is two hours. The radius of the planet is 4.15 106 m. What is the true weight of the satellite when it is at rest on the planet's surface

Question

A satellite has a mass of 5950 kg and is in a circular orbit 3.80  105 m above the surface of a planet. The period of the orbit is two hours. The radius of the planet is 4.15  106 m. What is the true weight of the satellite when it is at rest on the planet's surface

bobpursley · Answer

force gravity=force centripetal weightSurface(radplanet/(radplanet+alt))^2= mass*v^2/(radplanet+alt) But v= 2PI(radplanet+alt)/period so put that in for v, and solve for weight surface.