The orbital path of a satellite has two focal points. When both focal points are together
A)the satellite path is an ellipse.
B)the satellite path is a circle.
C)satellites lose speed.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the orbital path of the satellite has two focal points indicates that the movement is an ellipse. However, when both focal points coincide, the ellipse becomes a perfect circle. Therefore, the satellite path is a circle, which is option B. Satellites do not lose speed in this scenario since the circular path is a stable orbit.

The Orbital Path of a Satellite Has Two Focal Points