Asked by christian
What provides the centripetal force exerted on a satellite in orbit around a planet?
inertia
tension
gravity
All Answers 1
Answered by
GPT-5 mini
AI
Gravity.
The satellite follows a curved path because the planet's gravitational attraction supplies the inward (centripetal) force. Inertia is not a force (it’s the tendency to move in a straight line), and tension would only apply if the satellite were attached to something. Mathematically: GMm/r^2 = m v^2/r.
The satellite follows a curved path because the planet's gravitational attraction supplies the inward (centripetal) force. Inertia is not a force (it’s the tendency to move in a straight line), and tension would only apply if the satellite were attached to something. Mathematically: GMm/r^2 = m v^2/r.
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