Page 11 - SP015 Past Years PSPM Chapter 6 -14 Ver 2020

PSPM SP015

Satellite motion in a circular orbit

PSPM JAN 1999/2000 SF015/2 No. 7

12. A spaceship near the surface of Earth needs a certain speed so that it can orbit Earth.
Calculate the speed of the satellite and the time for it to make one circle around Earth.
[3 m]

PSPM JAN 1999/2000 SF015/2 No. 12(b)

13. A satellite is at a distance r from the centre of Earth. By applying Newton’s
gravitational force, determine the velocity v of the satellite motion and then determine
the period of the satellite orbiting Earth in terms of r, mass of Earth M, and gravitational
constant G. [4 m]

PSPM JAN 1999/2000 SF015/2 No. 12(c)(ii)

14. Jupiter planet has radius 11.2 times of the radius of Earth and mass 318 times of the
mass of Earth. If the rotation period of this planet on its axis is 10.2 hours, calculate the
orbital radius of the satellite that orbits Jupiter.
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(Given orbital radius of satellite that orbits Earth = 4.42  10 m) [4 m]

PSPM JUN 2000/2002 SF015/2 No. 5

15. A satellite orbits Earth in a circular orbit at the height of 35 000 km from the surface of
Earth. Calculate the velocity of the satellite. [4 m]

PSPM 2003/2004 SF017/2 No. 11(c)(ii)

16. Calculate the speed of the Hubble space telescope that orbits Earth at the height of
598 km from the surface of Earth. [3 m]

PSPM 2005/2006 SF017/2 No. 11(b)(i) – (iv) Edited

17. MATSAT is a 2000 kg satellite that is seen stationary to an observer on Earth. It is
orbiting with radius r = 42000 km from the centre of Earth.

(a) Why does the satellite appear stationary to the observer on Earth? [1 m]
(b) Explain why the satellite accelerates whereas it is moving at constant speed.
[1 m]
(c) Calculate the acceleration of the satellite. [3 m]

(d) Calculate the escape velocity of the satellite from the atmosphere of Earth. [3 m]

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