Question

) A satellite of mass m has an orbital period T when it is in a circular orbit of radius R around the earth. If the satellite instead had mass 4m, its orbital period would be A) T. B) 2T. C) 4T. D) T/4. E) T/2

Answer 1

Answer:

A) T.

Explanation:

Kepler's third law states that the orbital period (T) of a satellite is related with the radius (R) and the mass of the object (M) it orbits:

$T=\frac{2\pi R^{\frac{3}{2}}}{\sqrt{GM}}$  

So the orbital period is independent of the mass of the satellite, that means no matter the mass every satellite at a radius R around the earth have an orbital period A.