What speed do satellites orbit at?

The key point to recognise here is that an object undergoing a circular orbit around the Earth is undergoing circular motion. Circular motion is caused by a centripetal force (acting towards the centre of the circle), described by:

F= msatellitev2/r   (eq 1)

In the case of an orbit, the force acting towards the centre is due to the gravity of the Earth, which is described by Newton's law of universal gravitation:

F= GmEarthmSatellite/r2  (eq 2)

We can now equate these two expressions:

Fc = Fg => msatellitev2/r = GmEarthmSatellite/r2  (eq 3)

Now me can rearrange to make v the subject of the equation:

v = sqrt(GmEarth/r)   (eq 4)

This is the speed of a satellite in a circular orbit around the Earth. Note that v is proportional to 1/sqrt(r) and that the mass of the satellite has cancelled out.

Answered by Ryan M. Physics tutor

2902 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

How can a car be changing velocity yet not changing speed?


A boy (25kg) and a girl (20kg) are playing on a see-saw which is 4m long. If the boy sits 1m from the centre on the left side and the girl 2m from the centre on the other, which direction will the see-saw will rotate around its centre?


What is resistivity?


A ball is dropped from rest at a height of 2 metres. Assuming acceleration due to gravity (g) is 10m/s^2 calculate the velocity of the ball just before it hits the floor.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences