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Question 70 of 108

Q.Show that period of a satellite revolving around the Earth depends upon mass of the Earth.

Maharashtra MsbshseMaharashtra HSC (MSBSHSE) Board 2017Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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Equating gravitational force to the centripetal force needed for a satellite's circular orbit gives T2=4π2r3GMT^2=\dfrac{4\pi^2 r^3}{GM}, which shows TT depends on the Earth's mass MM.

Consider a satellite of mass mm revolving in a circular orbit of radius rr around the Earth of mass MM. The gravitational force of attraction provides the necessary centripetal force:

GMmr2=mv2r=mω2r\frac{GMm}{r^2} = \frac{mv^2}{r} = m\omega^2 r

Since ω=2πT\omega = \dfrac{2\pi}{T},

GMr2=(2πT)2r\frac{GM}{r^2} = \left(\frac{2\pi}{T}\right)^2 r

GMr2=4π2rT2\frac{GM}{r^2} = \frac{4\pi^2 r}{T^2}

Solving for T2T^2:

T2=4π2r3GMT^2 = \frac{4\pi^2 r^3}{GM}

T=2πr3GMT = 2\pi\sqrt{\frac{r^3}{GM}}

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