Satellites (1 Viewer)

[TeaYarn]

Two satellites, X and Y, orbit the earth. The mass of satellite X is twice that of satellite Y. The orbital radius of satellite Y is twice that of satellite X.
What is the ratio of the orbital speed of satellite X to the orbital speed of satellite Y?
A) 1:1
B) 1:√2
C) √2:1
D) 2:1

Please show all working

 

[cub3root]

I am going to guess B) because if the satellite is further away it will need to be faster in order to "catch up"

 

[anomalousdecay]

I am going to guess B) because if the satellite is further away it will need to be faster in order to "catch up"

I think its the wrong order lel. Orbital speed is different. Use the formulas.



M is the mass of the Earth, r is the radius of orbit and G is the universal gravitational constant.

So the mass of the satellite's don't affect the required orbital velocity.

Satellite Y has twice the orbital radius. So then the required orbital velocity of satellite Y is less by a factor of 1/sqrt(2).

Hence X:Y is 1: 1/sqrt(2)

Hence X:Y is:

 

[cub3root]

oops it says X:Y

yeah should be other way around