Question

A satellite travels around Earth in uniform circular motion at an altitude of 35650 km above Earth's surface. The satellite is in geosynchronous orbit. The satellite moves counterclockwise (ABCDA). (State directions in terms of the x- and y-axes.) The radius of Earth is 6371 km. What is the magnitude of the satellite's average acceleration for one quarter of an orbit, starting at A and ending at B?

Answer 1

0.20007 m/s²

Step-by-step explanation:

Please see the enclosed image for detailed explanation and step by step calculations.

Radius of orbit of the satellite = r = 6371 + 35650 = 42021 km

ω = angular velocity of the satellite = 2 π radians /(24 * 3600)sec

v = r ω

Average acceleration a = Δv/Δt

aₐᵥ = (v2 - v1) / Δt