The correct answer is:
<span>A. orbiting closer to the earths surface.
In fact, the gravitational force exerted by the Earth on the satellite is
</span>
<span>where
G is the gravitational constant
M is the Earth mass
m is the satellite mass
r is the distance of the satellite from the Earth's surface
We can see that, if the satellite orbits closer to the Earth's surface, its distance r from the centre of the planet decreases. But when r decreases, F (the gravitational force) increases, so A is the correct answer.</span>
<span>A. orbiting closer to the earths surface.
In fact, the gravitational force exerted by the Earth on the satellite is
</span>
<span>where
G is the gravitational constant
M is the Earth mass
m is the satellite mass
r is the distance of the satellite from the Earth's surface
We can see that, if the satellite orbits closer to the Earth's surface, its distance r from the centre of the planet decreases. But when r decreases, F (the gravitational force) increases, so A is the correct answer.</span>