Question

Which factor is not needed when calculating the velocity of a satellite orbiting a planet?(1 point)
Responses

the mass of the planet
the mass of the planet

the mass of the satellite
the mass of the satellite

the universal gravitational constant
the universal gravitational constant

the orbital radius of the satellite
the orbital radius of the satellite

Answer 1

When calculating the velocity of a satellite orbiting a planet, the factor that is not needed is **the mass of the satellite**.

The velocity of a satellite in orbit mainly depends on the mass of the planet (which determines the gravitational force) and the orbital radius. The mass of the satellite does not affect the orbital velocity when in a stable orbit around a much larger mass.