Question

The average speed of the space shuttle is 19800 mi/h. Calculate the altitude of the shuttle's orbit.

Answer 1

`r = 5.13 * 10^6`

Step-by-step explanation:

As we know that the centripetal force for the space shuttle is due to gravitational force of earth due to which it will rotate in circular path with constant speed

so here we will have

`(mv^2)/(r) = (GMm)/(r^2)`

here we know that

v = 19800 mi/h

`v = 19800 (1602 m)/(3600 s)`

`v = 8811 m/s`

also we know that

`M = 5.97 * 10^(24) kg`

now we will have

`r = (GM)/(v^2)`

`r = ((6.67 * 10^(-11))(5.97 * 10^(24)))/((8811)^2)`

`r = 5.13 * 10^6`