Question

A satellite moves in a stable circular orbit with speed vo at a distance R from the center of a planet. For this satellite to move in a stable circular orbit a distance 2R from the center of the planet, the speed of the satellite must be:

A. 0.5 vo
B. vo
C. 2 vo
D. 4 vo

Answer 1

To move in a stable circular orbit a distance 2R from the center of the planet, the satellite would need to have a speed of vo.

Step-by-step explanation:

To move in a stable circular orbit a distance 2R from the center of the planet, the satellite would need to have a speed of vo. The speed of a satellite in a circular orbit is determined by the balance between the gravitational force and the centripetal force. Since the distance from the center of the planet has doubled, the gravitational force has decreased by a factor of 22 and the centripetal force is also reduced by the same factor. However, since the force of gravity and the mass of the satellite have both decreased by the same factor, the speed of the satellite remains unchanged.