Gravitational force is greater for a satellite in elliptical orbit when it is at the
A)apogee (farthest point).
B)perigee (closest point).
C)zenith.
D)same acceleration at all of the above places.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gravitational force is directly proportional to the mass of the celestial bodies and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. At perigee, the satellite is closest to the Earth, so the distance between them is smaller than at apogee. Therefore, the gravitational force is greater at perigee compared to apogee.

Gravitational Force Is Greater for a Satellite in Elliptical Orbit