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Question 59 of 108

Q.Derive an expression for critical velocity of a satellite revolving around the earth in a circular orbit.

Maharashtra MsbshseMaharashtra HSC (MSBSHSE) Board 2016Subjective· 2mImportance★★★★★
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Equate the gravitational pull of the Earth on the satellite to the centripetal force needed to keep it in its circular orbit.

Consider a satellite of mass mm revolving in a circular orbit of radius (R+h)(R+h) around the Earth (Earth's radius RR, mass MM, height of orbit above surface hh).

For the satellite to remain in a stable circular orbit, the gravitational force of attraction provided by the Earth must exactly supply the centripetal force required for circular motion:

GMm(R+h)2=mvc2R+h\frac{GMm}{(R+h)^2}=\frac{mv_c^2}{R+h}

Cancelling mm and one factor of (R+h)(R+h) from both sides:

vc2=GMR+hv_c^2=\frac{GM}{R+h}

vc=GMR+hv_c=\sqrt{\frac{GM}{R+h}}

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