An object orbits Earth at an altitude of 200 kilometers above the planet’s surface. What is its speed and orbital period?

To begin with, we need to draw a graph with all of the forces acting on a body.

From that, we can see that the net force Fnet = Fg - Fc , where Fg is gravitational force and Fc is centripetal force acting on a body.

Due to the fact, that the object is in a stable orbit around the Earth, Fnet = 0 N and Fg = Fc -> GmM/(R+h)^2=mv^2/(R+h) -> GM/(R+h)=v^2 and v = (GM/(R+h))^0.5

Inserting values for Earth’s mass (M=5.972×10^24 kg) , and radius (R=6 371 km), we get that v=7785.9 m/s

To find the orbital period, we use the formula T = 2 * pi * (R+h) / v = 5302.8 s

DA
Answered by Domas A. Physics tutor

2892 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

A basketball player throws his ball vertically upwards with an initial speed of v=40 m/s. Ignore air resistance. What is the speed of the ball at half of the maximum height?


A body of mass 2kg is travelling in a straight line along the x-axis. It collides with a second body of mass 3kg which is moving at -2m/s. The two bodies move off together at 3m/s. What is the initial velocity of the first body?


Explain why excited atoms only emit certain frequencies of radiation after an electron collides with the atom


Derive an expression to show that for satellites in a circular orbit T² ∝ r ³ where T is the period of orbit and r is the radius of the orbit.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning