Geosynchronous satellites orbit the Earth at a distance of 42 000 km from the Earth's center.Their angular speed at this height is the same as the rotation rate of the Earth,so they appear stationary at certain locations in the sky.What is the force acting on a 1 500-kg satellite at this height?
A)85.0 N
B)333 N
C)404 N
D)457 N

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The force acting on a satellite in geosynchronous orbit can be calculated using the formula for gravitational force: $F = \frac{G \cdot m_1 \cdot m_2}{r^2}$, where $G$ is the gravitational constant ($6.674 \times 10^{-11} \, \text{Nm}^2/\text{kg}^2$), $m_1$ is the mass of the Earth ($5.972 \times 10^{24} \, \text{kg}$), $m_2$ is the mass of the satellite (1,500 kg), and $r$ is the distance from the center of the Earth to the satellite (42,000 km or 42,000,000 m). Plugging these values into the formula gives a force of approximately 333 N.

Geosynchronous Satellites Orbit the Earth at a Distance of 42