Page 98 - text book form physics kssm 2020

Example 1

Figure 3.19 shows a weather satellite orbiting the Earth at a height, h = 480 km. Linear speed
3
–1
of the satellite is 7.62 × 10 m s . Th e radius of the Earth, R is R = 6.37 × 10 m. What is the
6
centripetal acceleration of the satellite?

Orbit of weather v
satellite

Earth

h m m
Weatherr
Weathe
satellite

M

Figure 3.19
Solution:
Height of satellite, h = 480 km
Step 14243 = 480 000 m
3
List the given information in symbols. Linear speed of satellite, v = 7.62 × 10 m s –1
6
Radius of the Earth, R = 6.37 × 10 m
Step v 2
a =
Identify and write down the formula used. r
123
v 2
a =
Step (R + h)
3 2
Substitute numerical values into the formula 14243 = (7.62 × 10 )
6
and perform the calculations. (6.37 × 10 + 480 000)
= 8.48 m s –2

92
92 3.1.5
3.1.5