Satellite Motion


Satellite Motion
Summary of Terms:
Satellite: A projectile or small celestial body that orbits a larger celestial body.
Ellipse: The closed oval-like curve wherein the sum of the distances from any point on the curve to both foci is a constant. When the foci are together at one point, the ellipse is a circle. The farther apart the foci, the more eccentric the ellipse.
Escape Speed: The speed that a projectile, space probe, or similar object must reach to escape the gravitational influence of the earth or celestial body to which it is attracted.
Equations, Equivalences, and Concepts:
The sum or KE and PE for a satellite is a constant at all points along its orbit.
For a satellite in circular orbit, it is always moving perpendicularly to the earth’s gravitational field.
Because a satellite moves at right angles to the earth’s gravitational field, no change in speed occurs - only a change in direction.
The higher the orbit of a satellite, the less it’s speed and the longer it’s period.

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