Question

Six artificial satellites circle a space station at constant speed. The mass m of each satellite, distance L from the space station, and the speed v of each satellite are listed below. The satellites fire rockets that provide the force needed to maintain a circular orbit around the space station. The gravitational force is negligible. 1. m=200kg,L= 5000 m, v=120 m/s 2. m=800kg,l= 10,000 m, v=40m/s 3. m=400kg,L= 2500 m, v=80m/s 4. m=100kg, L=2500 m, V=160m/s 5. m=300kg, L=10,000m, V=80 m/s 6. m=200kg, L=5000 m, V=160 m/s Part A Rank each satellite from largest to smallest based on its period. Part B Rank each satellite from largest to smallest based on its acceleration.

Answer 1

Answers:

a) $T_{2}>T_{5}>T_{1}>T_{3}=T_{6}>T_{4}$

b) $a_{4}>a_{6}>a_{1}>a_{3}>a_{5}>a_{2}$

Explanation:

a) Since we are told the satellites circle the space station at constant speed, we can assume they follow a uniform circular motion and their tangential speeds $V$ are given by:

$V=\omega L=\frac{2\pi}{T} L$ (1)

Where:

$\omega$ is the angular frequency

$L$ is the radius of the orbit of each satellite

$T$ is the period of the orbit of each satellite

Isolating $T$:

$T=\frac{2 \pi L}{V}$ (2)

Applying this equation to each satellite:

$T_{1}=\frac{2 \pi L}{V_{1}}=261.79 s$ (3)

$T_{2}=\frac{2 \pi L}{V_{2}}=1570.79 s$ (4)

$T_{3}=\frac{2 \pi L}{V_{3}}=196.349 s$ (5)

$T_{4}=\frac{2 \pi L}{V_{4}}=98.174 s$ (6)

$T_{5}=\frac{2 \pi L}{V_{5}}=785.398 s$ (7)

$T_{6}=\frac{2 \pi L}{V_{6}}=196.349 s$ (8)

Ordering this periods from largest to smallest:

$T_{2}>T_{5}>T_{1}>T_{3}=T_{6}>T_{4}$

b) Acceleration $a$ is defined as the variation of velocity in time:

$a=\frac{V}{T}$ (9)

Applying this equation to each satellite:

$a_{1}=\frac{V_{1}}{T_{1}}=0.458 m/s^{2}$ (10)

$a_{2}=\frac{V_{2}}{T_{2}}=0.0254 m/s^{2}$ (11)

$a_{3}=\frac{V_{3}}{T_{3}}=0.4074 m/s^{2}$ (12)

$a_{4}=\frac{V_{4}}{T_{4}}=1.629 m/s^{2}$ (13)

$a_{5}=\frac{V_{5}}{T_{5}}=0.101 m/s^{2}$ (14)

$a_{6}=\frac{V_{6}}{T_{6}}=0.814 m/s^{2}$ (15)

Ordering this acceerations from largest to smallest:

$a_{4}>a_{6}>a_{1}>a_{3}>a_{5}>a_{2}$