Final answer:
The velocity of the satellite in its orbit at a distance of 40000 km from the Earth's surface is approximately 1.3x10^4 m/s.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the velocity of a satellite in its orbit at a distance of 40000 km from the Earth's surface, we can use the formula for circular motion. The centripetal force required to keep the satellite in its circular orbit is provided by the gravitational force between the satellite and the Earth.
The formula for the velocity of an object in circular motion is v = sqrt(GM/r), where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the Earth, and r is the distance between the satellite and the center of the Earth. Plugging in the values, we have v = sqrt((6.67x10^-11 N*m^2/kg^2)(5.97x10^24 kg)/(40000 km + 6370 km)). Converting the distance to meters, we get v = 1.3x10^4 m/s.