The following statements refer to man-made, artificial satellites in orbit around Earth. Which is an accurate statement?
A) The velocity required to keep a satellite in a given orbit depends on the mass of the satellite.
B) Only circular orbits are possible for artificial satellites.
C) The period of revolution of a satellite moving about the Earth is independent of the size of the orbit it travels.
D) A satellite in a large diameter circular orbit will always have a longer period of revolution about the Earth than will a satellite in a smaller circular orbit.
E) It is possible to have a satellite traveling at either a high speed or at a low speed in a given circular orbit.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The period of revolution of a satellite around Earth increases with the size of its orbit due to the increased distance it must travel. This is in accordance with Kepler's third law, which states that the square of the orbital period of a planet (or satellite) is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit. This means that satellites in larger orbits will indeed have longer periods of revolution.

The Following Statements Refer to Man-Made, Artificial Satellites in Orbit