Physics Assignment Help | Satellite and Planetary

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S Sa at te el ll li it te e a an nd d P Pl la an ne et ta ar ry y M Mo ot ti io on n
MOTION OF A SATELLITE IN A CIRCULAR ORBIT
Orbital Velocity of Satellite: Satellites are natural or artificial bodies describing orbit around a
planet under its gravitational attraction. Moon is a universal satellite while INSAT1B is an artificial
satellite of earth. Condition for creation of artificial satellite is that the centre of orbit of satellite
must coincide with centre of earth or satellite must move around great circle of earth.
Orbital speed of a satellite is the velocity required to put the satellite into its orbit around the earth.
For motion of satellite around the earth, the gravitational pull provides the required centripetal
force.
2
2
mv GMm
r r
=

GM
v
r
=

2
gR g
v R
R h R h
= =
+ +
[As GM = gR
2
and r = R + h]
Angular Speed: The corresponding angular speed is,
e = v
0
/r
Putting v
0
=
GM
r
, we obtain,
e =
3
GM
r
=
3
GM
(R h) +
.
M
R
h
r
Earth F
g
P
m
v
Satellite
Time Period of Revolution: The period of revolution
T = 2t/e
Putting, e =
3
GM
r
, T = 2t
3
r
GM
= 2t
3
(R h)
GM
+
.
Potential Energy: The Gravitational potential energy of the planet satellite system is,
PE =
GMm
r
.
The negative sign shows that the satellite is subjected to planets gravitational field.
Kinetic Energy: KE of a satellite in orbit is given by , KE =
1
2
2
0
mv , where v
0
=
GM
r
,
KE =
GMm
2r
.
Total Energy: The total mechanical energy of the satellite is equal to the sum of its potential and
kinetic energies.
Total energy E =
GMm
r
|

|
' .
+
GMm
2r
|
|
' .
=
GMm
2r
The total energy is negative because the satellite is bound by the planets gravitational field.
Angular Momentum: The angular speed of the satellite is shown by, L = mv
0
r.
Puttingv
0
=
GM
r
, we obtain, L = m( GMr ).
ESCAPE VELOCITY
The minimum velocity with which a body must be projected up so as to enable it to just overcome
the gravitational force, is called as escape velocity
The work done to displace a object from the surface of earth (r = R) to infinity (r = ) is
2
R
GMm 1 1
W dx GMm
R x

(
= =
(

}

GMm
W
R
=
This work needed to project the body so as to escape the gravitational pull is performed on the
body by providing an equal amount of kinetic energy to it at the surface of the earth.
If v
e
is the required escape velocity, then kinetic energy which could be shown to the body is
2
e
1
mv
2

2
e e
1 GMm 2GM
mv v
2 R R
= =
e
v 2gR = [As GM = gR
2
]
or
e
4
v 2 GR R
3
= t
e
8
v R G
3
= t [As
4
g GR
3
= t ]
Velocity of a Planet in Terms of Eccentricity: Applying the law of conservation of angular
momentum at perigee and apogee
Mv
p
r
p
= mv
a
r
a

p
a
a p
v
r a c 1 e
v r a c 1 e
+ +
= = =

[As r
p
= a c, r
a
= a + c and eccentricity
c
e
a
=
]
Applying the relational of mechanical energy at perigee and apogee
2 2 2 2
p a p a
p a p a
1 GMm 1 GMm 1 1
mv mv v v 2GM
2 r 2 r r r
(
= =
(
(


2 2
a p a p 2
a 2
a p p
r r r r
v 2GM
r r r
( (
=
( (
( (

[As
a a
p
p
v r
v
r
= ]

p 2 2
a a
a p a
r
2GM 2GM a c 2GM 1 e
v v
r r r a a c a 1 e
( | |
= = =
(
| |
+ + + ' . ' .

Thus the speeds of planet at apogee and perigee are,
a
2GM 1 e
v
a 1 e
|
=
|
+ ' .
,
p
2GM 1 e
v
a 1 e
| +
=
|
' .
WEIGHTLESSNESS
The weight of a body is the force with which it is attracted towards the centre of earth. When an
object is stationary with respect to the planet, its weight equals the gravity. This weight of the
object is called as its static or true weight.
We become conscious of our weight, in that case when our weight is opposed by some other
object. Usually, the operation of measuring the weight of a body with a weighing machine lies in
the fact that as we place the body on the machine, the weighing machine repulses the weight of
the object. The reaction of the weighing machine to the body gives the measure of the weight of
the body.
The phase of weightlessness may be observed in the following situations:
(i) When objects fall freely under gravity : For example, a lift goes down freely, or an airship
showing a feat in which it falls freely for a few seconds in the mean while its flight, are in
state of weightlessness.
(ii) When a satellite revolves in its orbit around the earth : Weightlessness poses many serious
problems to the astronauts. It seems quite difficult for them to control their positions.
Everything in the moon has to be saved tied down. Creation of duplicate gravity is the answer
to this problem.
(iii) When bodies are at null points in outer space : On a body shown up, the force of the earth
goes on decreasing, but at the similar time the gravitational force of the moon on the body
goes on increasing. At one point, the two gravitational forces may be equal and opposite
and the net pull on the body converts to zero. This is zero gravity fields or the null point
and the body in question is said to appear weightless.
Weightlessness in a Satellite: A satellite, which does not give its own gravity, moves around the earth
in a circular orbit under the action of gravity. The acceleration of satellite is
2
GM
r
towards the centre of
earth.
If a body of mass m placed on a surface inside a satellite moving around the earth. Then forces on the
body are
(i) The gravitational pull of earth
2
GMm
r
=
(ii) The reaction by the surface = R
By Newtons law
2
GMm
R ma
r
= ;
2 2
GMm GM
R m
r r
|
=
|
' .
R = 0
2
G M m
r
Thus the field does not exert any force on the body and hence its apparent weight is zero.
A body needs no support to stay at rest in the satellite and hence all position are equally
comfortable. Such a state is called weightlessness.
GEO STATIONARY SATELLITES
The satellites which seemat rest relative to earth or which has similar angular velocity as that of
earths rotation i.e. with a time phase of 24 hours, such satellite must be operating in an orbit of
specific radius. That orbit is known as parking orbit. If a stationary satellite is at a length h above
the earths field, then its orbiting speed is shown by,
e
gs
e
GM
V
R h
=
+
The time period of its revolution can be given as,
,
2
3
2
e
e
4
T R h
GM
t
= +
or
1/ 3
2 2
e
e 2
gR T
h R
4
|
=
|
t ' .
; h 36000 Km ~