A satellite is in orbit around the earth, traveling at a rate of 85.4 minutes per orbit. a space shuttle enters the same orbit, traveling at a rate of 93.6 minutes per orbit. the shuttle is .25 orbits behind the satellite, traveling toward it.
Let x be the # of orbits the shuttle makes before the shuttle and the satellite first meet. which expression below might represent the number of orbits the satellite makes in the same time?
a. x-.25
b. x+.25
c. x-.75
d. x +.25
First, they are wont meet, they have to be at different altitudes NOT in the same orbits, to have different periods. Duh.
Forgetting the above basic physics, and assuming the problem correctly states the physics of gravity, then
The distance the shuttle will travel is x+25 the distance the satellite travels. or, the satellite travels x-.25 the number of orbits the shuttle .
thank you soo much bobpursley! if you wanna help me more, i have more questions that im going to post regarding the same question =]
sorry!
fxc=ge
The shuttle cannot be in the same orbit as the satellite with different orbital periods.
The satellite is at a highly unlikely altitude of 28.7 miles altitude for a period of 85.4 minutes.
The shuttle is at a 289.3 mile altitude for a period of 93.6 minutes.
During each orbit of the satellite, the shuttle falls an additional further 45deg behind the satellite.
Just before the end of the second orbit of each vehicle, the shuttle reduces its velocity and goes into an elliptical transfer orbit with a period of 89.4minutes.
The shuttle meets the satellite at the perigee (lowest altitude) of theh transfer orbit.
The shuttle fires its engines to achieve the same circular velocity as the satellite.
All of this is hypothetical as no satellte would ever be launched into a 27.8 miles high orbit.
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