A satellite has a mass of 5850 kg and is in a circular orbit 3.8 105 m above the surface of a planet. The period of the orbit is two hours. The radius of the planet is 4.15 106 m. What is the true weight of the satellite when it is at rest on the planet's surface?

Question

A satellite has a mass of 5850 kg and is in a circular orbit 3.8  105 m above the surface of a planet. The period of the orbit is two hours. The radius of the planet is 4.15  106 m. What is the true weight of the satellite when it is at rest on the planet's surface?

bobpursley · Answer

GMm/d^2=mv^2/d where d is the orbital radius. v= 2PId/period, change the period to seconds, solve for v. Now,putting that into the equation, solve for GM

Then put GM in to the weight equation.

Weight=GM m/4.15E6^2

barbara · Answer

how much (in kilograms) does a house key weigh?

bobpursley · Answer

My guess is about .025kg.

david · Answer

i did GM5850/4.15E6^2= 5850*217183.3^2/ 4.15E6 my V was 217183.3 then when i solved for GM i got 1.9574E37 and pluged that into the weight equation and it was marked wrong. someone please help

taylor · Answer

i did the same thing david did and gor the wrong answer please help me