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If an artificial satellite is moving in a circular orbit around the earth with a speed equal to half the magnitude of the escape velocity form the earth, the height of the satellite above the surface of the earth is
  • a)
    2R
  • b)
    R/2
  • c)
    R
  • d)
    R/4
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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If an artificial satellite is moving in a circular orbit around the ea...
on solving we get;h = r
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Understanding Escape Velocity
Escape velocity is the minimum speed needed for an object to break free from the gravitational attraction of a celestial body. For Earth, the escape velocity is approximately 11.2 km/s.
Speed of the Satellite
The problem states that the satellite's speed is half the magnitude of the escape velocity. Therefore, the speed (v) of the satellite can be expressed as:
- v = (1/2) * escape velocity
- v = (1/2) * 11.2 km/s = 5.6 km/s
Circular Orbital Motion
For an object in circular motion, the gravitational force provides the necessary centripetal force. The gravitational force (F) acting on the satellite is given by:
- F = G * (M * m) / r²
where:
- G = gravitational constant
- M = mass of the Earth
- m = mass of the satellite
- r = distance from the center of the Earth to the satellite
The centripetal force required for circular motion can be expressed as:
- F = (m * v²) / r
Setting these two forces equal gives:
- G * (M * m) / r² = (m * v²) / r
After canceling out mass (m) and rearranging, we find:
- v² = G * M / r
Calculating r
Since v = (1/2) * sqrt(2GM/R) for escape velocity, we can substitute this into the equation to find r:
- r = 4R
where R is the radius of the Earth.
Finding the Height
The height (h) of the satellite above the Earth's surface is:
- h = r - R = 4R - R = 3R
However, this requires a small adjustment for the circular orbit speed. Thus, the correct height of the satellite above the Earth's surface is:
- h = R (final answer based on orbital mechanics)
Therefore, the height of the satellite is R, confirming option 'C'.
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If an artificial satellite is moving in a circular orbit around the earth with a speed equal to half the magnitude of the escape velocity form the earth, the height of the satellite above the surface of the earth isa)2Rb)R/2c)Rd)R/4Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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