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Chapter 13: Q. 3 (page 353)

A 1000 kg satellite and a 2000 kg satellite follow exactly the same orbit around the earth.
a. What is the ratio F1/F2 of the gravitational force on the first satellite to that on the second satellite?
b. What is the ratio a1/a2 of the acceleration of the first satellite to that of the second satellite?

Short Answer

Expert verified

a) The ratio F1/F2 = ½

b) Ratio a1/a2 =1

Step by step solution

01

Part(a) Step 1: Given information

Mass of satellite 1 = 1000 kg

Mass of satellite 2 = 2000 kg

Follow exactly the same orbit around the earth.

02

Part(a) Step 2 Explanation

Calculate gravitation force on each satellite and find the ratio

Gravitational force on Satellite 1

F1= m1g = 1000 kg x g --------------------------(1)

Gravitational force on Satellite 2

F2= m2g = 2000 kg x g --------------------------(2)

Divide equation (1) and (2) we get

F1 /F2 = 1/2

03

Part(b) Step 1 : Given Information

Mass of satellite 1 = 1000 kg

Mass of satellite 2 = 2000 kg

Follow exactly the same orbit around the earth.

04

Part(b) Step 2: Explanation

Find a for each satellite and find the ratio

Force on Satellite 1

F1=m1a∣F1=1000×a1….....................(4)

Similarly on satellite 2

F2=m2a2F2=2000×a2….......................(5)F1F2=1000×a12000×a212=12×a1a2a1a2=1

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Saturn’s moon Titan has a mass of 1.35*1023kgand a radius of2580km. What is the free-fall acceleration on Titan?

A rocket is launched straight up from the earth’s surface at a speed of 15,000m/s.What is its speed when it is very far away from the earth?

The solar system is 25,000 light years from the center of our Milky Way galaxy. One light year is the distance light travels in one year at a speed of 3.0 x 108 m/s. Astronomers have determined
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a. Assuming the orbit is circular, what is the period of the solar
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c. The gravitational force on the solar system is the net force due to all the matter inside our orbit. Most of that matter is concentrated near the center of the galaxy. Assume that the matter has a spherical distribution, like a giant star. What is the approximate mass of the galactic center?
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