Two artificial satellites are in circular orbits about the Earth. Which of the two will be moving more slowly along its orbit?
A) The one with the smaller mass.
B) The one with the larger mass.
C) The lower one.
D) The higher one.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The higher the satellite's orbit, the slower it moves because the gravitational force from the Earth is weaker farther away. Therefore, the satellite in the higher orbit will be moving more slowly than the one in the lower orbit. The mass of the satellites does not affect their speeds.

Two Artificial Satellites Are in Circular Orbits About the Earth