Question

Two satellites, X and Y, are orbiting Earth. Satellite X is 1.2 × 106 m from Earth, and Satellite Y is 1.9 × 105 m from Earth. Which best compares the satellites? Satellite X has a greater period and a faster tangential speed than Satellite Y. Satellite X has a greater period and a slower tangential speed than Satellite Y. Satellite X has a shorter period and a faster tangential speed than Satellite Y. Satellite X has a shorter period and a slower tangential speed than Satellite Y.

Answer 1

Answer:

B

Explanation:

Answer 2

Answer: Satellite X has a greater period and a slower tangential speed than Satellite Y

Explanation:

According to Kepler’s Third Law of Planetary motion “The square of the orbital period of a planet is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis (size) of its orbit”.

$T^{2}=\frac{4\pi^{2}}{GM}r^{3}$    (1)

Where;

$G=6.674(10)^{-11}\frac{m^{3}}{kgs^{2}}$ is the Gravitational Constant

$M=5.972(10)^{24}kg$ is the mass of the Earth

$r$  is the semimajor axis of the orbit each satellite describes around Earth (assuming it is a circular orbit, the semimajor axis is equal to the radius of the orbit)

So for satellite X, the orbital period $T_{X}$ is:

$T_{X}^{2}=\frac{4\pi^{2}}{GM}r_{X}^{3}$    (2)

Where $r_{X}=1.2(10)^{6}m$

$T_{X}^{2}=\frac{4\pi^{2}}{(6.674(10)^{-11}\frac{m^{3}}{kgs^{2}})(5.972(10)^{24}kg)}(1.2(10)^{6}m)^{3}$    (3)

$T_{X}=413.712 s$    (4)

For satellite Y, the orbital period $T_{Y}$ is:

$T_{Y}^{2}=\frac{4\pi^{2}}{GM}r_{Y}^{3}$    (5)

Where $r_{Y}=1.9(10)^{5}m$

$T_{Y}^{2}=\frac{4\pi^{2}}{(6.674(10)^{-11}\frac{m^{3}}{kgs^{2}})(5.972(10)^{24}kg)}(1.9(10)^{5}m)^{3}$    (6)

$T_{Y}=26.064 s$    (7)

This means $T_{X}>T_{Y}$

Now let's calculate the tangential speed for both satellites:

For Satellite X:

$V_{X}=\sqrt{\frac{GM}{r_{X}}}$ (8)

$V_{X}=\sqrt{\frac{(6.674(10)^{-11}\frac{m^{3}}{kgs^{2}})(5.972(10)^{24}kg)}{1.2(10)^{6}m}}$

$V_{X}=18224.783 m/s$ (9)

For Satellite Y:

$V_{Y}=\sqrt{\frac{GM}{r_{Y}}}$ (10)

$V_{Y}=\sqrt{\frac{(6.674(10)^{-11}\frac{m^{3}}{kgs^{2}})(5.972(10)^{24}kg)}{1.9(10)^{5}m}}$

$V_{Y}= 45801.13 m/s$ (11)

This means $V_{Y}>V_{X}$

Therefore:

Satellite X has a greater period and a slower tangential speed than Satellite Y