PROBLEM: How does the centripetal force on an orbiting body affect the body's
period of revolution?
How does the centripetal force on an orbiting body affect the body's
frequency of revolution?
MATERIALS: See if you can decide what equipment you need
PROCEDURE: Design an experiment to solve the problems.
QUESTIONS:
- What are the answers to the two problem questions. Answer with an equation for each question.
- When a satellite is in orbit around the earth, what force is the cause of the centripetal force acting on the satellite?
- Gravitational force is given by two equations:
- 1. Fg = mg
- 2. Fg = (GM1M2)/r2
- In the second equation, the M's are the masses of two objects (one and two), r is the distance between the objects, and G = 6.67 X 10-11 Nm2/kg2. In a "stable" orbit around the Earth, the equation for the forces affecting the satellite is Fg = Fc. Substitute by putting in the appropriate equations for these symbols and solve for velocity.
- Does the mass of an orbiting satellite affect the satellite's velocity?
- How does the radius of orbit of a satellite affect the satellite's velocity?
- If the amount of force increases and the mass and radius remains the same, what does it do to the period and frequency of revolution?
- Using F = ma, v = 2pr/T, and a = v2/r, derive two equations for centripetal force. Show all your work.
- Restate the above equation which has time in it, by using frequency instead.
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November 22, 2013