Assume your 6000 km is the radius of the ball's orbit around the Earth, NOT the radius of the golf ball. r is approximately the radius of the Earth in this case
GM/r^2 = V^2/r
(gravitational force)/mass = dentripetal acceleration
V^2 = GM/r
G is the universal constant of gravity, M is the mass of the earth and V is the velocity of the ball. Solve for V, and then get the period P from
V*P = 2 pi r
Whats the period of greg's golf ball in orbit in minutes? Mass of earth is 6.0 x 10^24 kg. and its radius is 6.0 x 10^6 m.
(Greg hits a golf ball and says "that gotta be the lowest orbit on record".)
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1 answer