A satellite is in circular orbit at a height R above earth's surface.

a)find orbital period.
b)what height is required for a circular orbit with a period double that found in part (a)?

1 answer

A satellite is in circular orbit at a height R above earth's surface.
a)find orbital period.
b)what height is required for a circular orbit with a period double that found in part (a)?

Allow me to modify your terms.

a) The orbit radius R = Re + h where Re = the earth's radius and h = the altitude of the satellite in feet.

The orbital period of a satellite derives from
T = 2(Pi)sqrt(R^3/µ) where T = the orbital period in seconds, R = the radius of the satellite orbit and µ = the earth's gravitational constant = 1.407974x10^16 ft^3/sec^2.

b) For T = 4(Pi)sqrt[(Re + h)^3/µ)

h = R - Re = [(Tµ)/(16Pi^2)]^(1/3) - Re