Question

The polar- orbiting environmental satellites (POES) and some military satellites orbit at a much lower level in order to obtain more detailed information. POES complete an Earth orbit 14.1 times per day. What are the orbital speed and the ltitude of the POES?

Answer 1

First get the distance R from the center of the Earth

GM/R^2 = V^2/R

Period: P = (1/14.1)*24 hours*3600 s/h = 6128 s

2 pi*R/P = V

Solve the two independent equations for V and R.

Once you have R, subtract the radius of the Earth for altitude.