A satellite orbiting at an altitude of 500km travels around the earth 15 times in 24hrs. Determine the linear velocity of the satellite in km/h if the average diamenter of the earth is approximately 7918 miles
Answer is suppose to bed 29 976.549km/h
how do you get it
2007-02-24 10:24:32 · 4 answers · asked by Just Curious 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
First, you convert the diameter to km.
Then you add 1000 (the altitude of the satellite on both sides) to the the diameter of the orbit.
Then you figure out the circumference of the orbit by multiplying by Pi.
Then you multiply this by 15 to get the distance traveled in a day, and you divide that distance by 24, to get the number of kilometres that needs to be crossed in each hour. That is also the average speed.
2007-02-24 10:31:49 · answer #1 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
V = circumference / time or V = (2*pi*r) / T
500km is only the altutude, we have to add the radius of the Earth
r = 6.38x10^3 km + 500 km = 6880km
24hr/15rel = 1.6hr / rel
V = (2*pi*6880) / 1.6hr
V =27,004km/hr
i don't know how they got 29,976km/hr
2007-02-24 18:46:47 · answer #2 · answered by 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
radius of earth = 7918/2 = 3959 miles
this is 3959*1.6093 = 6371.22 km
Thus radius of sattellite's orbit is 6371.22+500 = 6871.22 km
Thus circumference of satellite's orbit is 2pi*6871.22 =43173.15 km. So 15 orbits = 647,597.25 km.
avrage speed is 647,597.25/24 =26,983.23 km/hour.
That's not your answer, but mine seems right.
.
2007-02-24 18:58:05 · answer #3 · answered by ironduke8159 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check your diameter of earth! The circumference is app. 40,000km
2007-02-24 18:31:09 · answer #4 · answered by knowitall 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋