Q.What is orbital velocity? Obtain an expression for it.
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Orbital velocity is the speed a satellite needs to stay in circular orbit; equating gravity to centripetal force gives v_o = sqrt(GM/(R+h)) = sqrt(gR^2/(R+h)). For an orbit close to Earth's surface, v_o is about 7.9 km/s.
Definition: Orbital velocity is the velocity with which a satellite must revolve around a planet so that it moves in a stable circular orbit, i.e. the gravitational attraction of the planet just provides the centripetal force needed for the circular motion.
Derivation:
Consider a satellite of mass m moving in a circular orbit of radius (R + h) around a planet of mass M and radius R, where h is the height of the satellite above the surface.
The gravitational force of attraction on the satellite is:
F_gravity = GMm / (R + h)^2
This force provides the centripetal force required for circular motion:
F_centripetal = m v_o^2 / (R + h)
For a stable orbit these are equal:
m v_o^2 / (R + h) = GMm / (R + h)^2
Cancel m and simplify: …
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