Full Question: The international space station orbits the earth in 1.5 hours. How far does it travel in one orbit? (Hint: find the speed of the ISS first. Then use S=D/T).
2006-10-05 08:51:24 · 4 answers · asked by John 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
time = 1.5 hours
speed = 17,202 miles an hour
distance = 25,803 miles
2006-10-05 09:58:27 · answer #1 · answered by Telesto 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Once around the Earth. Earth has a mean diameter of 12,742 km. If the ISS is orbiting 360 km above the surface, then it moves around a circle with a diameter of 12,742+360+360 = 13,462 km. The circumference of that circle is pi * 13,462 = 42,292 km. It does not matter at all how fast it is going, the distance is based on only the size of the Earth and altitude of the orbit. Of course you could just multiply the speed if the ISS by the 1.5 hours you gave for the time to complete an orbit, but since you didn't give that speed, I choose to look up the diameter of the Earth and altitude of the orbit instead of the speed to do my calculation.
2006-10-05 09:53:23 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to keep anything above earth in orbit, the object (such as the ISS needs to be going around 17,500 mph. there is your answer, also the International space station does not orbit the earth in a straight circle, it crosses the earth vertically and horizontaly
2006-10-05 11:00:07 · answer #3 · answered by mcdonaldcj 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you know,why ask us?.........
2006-10-05 08:53:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋