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Explain why the velocity of the satellite changes as it orbits the Earth - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 8 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 8
Explain why the velocity of the satellite changes as it orbits the Earth. A satellite orbits 300 km above the Earth’s surface at a speed of 7.73 km/s. Calculate how... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Explain why the velocity of the satellite changes as it orbits the Earth - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 8 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain why the velocity of the satellite changes as it orbits the Earth.
Answer
The velocity of a satellite changes during its orbit due to the force of gravity acting upon it. As the satellite moves in its elliptical path, the gravitational attraction causes it to accelerate towards the Earth, resulting in variations in speed. Furthermore, since velocity is a vector quantity, associated with both speed and direction, any change in direction—such as the satellite navigating its orbital path—also signifies a change in velocity.
Step 2
Calculate how many complete orbits of the Earth the satellite will make in 24 hours.
Answer
To determine the number of complete orbits, we first calculate the distance covered in one orbit. The circumference of the Earth's orbit can be estimated by the formula:
Where the radius is the Earth's radius plus the satellite's altitude above the Earth.
The average radius of the Earth is approximately 6371 km, thus:
Now, substituting the radius into the circumference formula:
ightarrow ext{approximately } 41863 ext{ km}$$ Now to find out how far the satellite travels in 24 hours: $$ ext{Distance} = ext{speed} imes ext{time} = 7.73 ext{ km/s} imes (24 imes 3600) ext{ s} ightarrow 667872 ext{ km}$$ Finally, dividing the distance by the circumference gives: $$ ext{Number of orbits} = \ rac{667872}{41863} ightarrow ext{approximately } 15.96$$ Thus, the satellite will complete approximately 16 orbits in 24 hours.Step 3
The predicted data can be considered to be accurate. Give the reason why.
Answer
The predicted data can be considered accurate due to the consistency of the established calculations in conjunction with the observed measurements of the satellite's behavior and orbital speed, which closely match the theoretical predictions made by gravitational models.
Step 4
Explain why the discovery of Uranus was important.
Answer
The discovery of Uranus was significant because it expanded the known boundaries of the solar system at the time, confirming predictions made by Bode’s law about the existence of planets beyond Saturn. It was the first planet discovered with a telescope, fundamentally altering our understanding of celestial mechanics and encouraging future astronomical exploration which led to further discoveries of other celestial bodies.