Circular path ... circumference = 2π · Radius
Radius = distance from the Earth's center = 22,500 km
Circumference = 2π · 22,500 km = 141,372 km
Speed = (distance to be covered) / (time to cover the distance)
Speed = (141,372 km) / (86,400 seconds)
Speed = (141,372/86,400) (km/sec)
<em>Speed = 1.64 km/sec</em>
<em>Extra Info:</em>
This problem is a nice exercise in Arithmetic, but you shouldn't take any of it to run with in the real world.
A satellite with a period of 1 day is NOT 22,500 km from the center of the Earth. It's more like 22,500 <u>MILES </u>from the Earth's <u>SURFACE. </u>
The real number is 22,236 miles above sea level, and 26,199 miles (42,164 km) from the center of the Earth.
To do <u>THAT</u> orbit in 86,400 seconds, the satellite has to zip around at <em>3.07 km/sec</em>.
