Of the satellites shown revolving around Earth, the one with the greatest speed is
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5

Question

Of the satellites shown revolving around Earth, the one with the greatest speed is 
A) 1 
B) 2 
C) 3 
D) 4 
E) 5

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The speed of a satellite in orbit depends on its altitude and the mass of the planet it is orbiting. The closer a satellite is to the planet, the faster it needs to travel to maintain its orbit. Of the satellites shown, Satellite 3 is closest to Earth and therefore must have the greatest speed.

Of the Satellites Shown Revolving Around Earth, the One with the Greatest