A satellite remains in an orbit around the earth due to the centripetal force provided by:
Correct answer: B. The gravitational pull of the earth on the satellite
- A. The gravitational pull of the sun on the satellite
- B. The gravitational pull of the earth on the satellite
- C. The rocket engine attached to the satellite
- D. None of the above
Explanation
Satellites remain in orbit around the Earth due to the gravitational pull of the Earth. This gravitational force provides the centripetal force required to keep the satellite in a stable orbit. According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, every mass attracts every other mass in the universe with a force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers. In the case of a satellite orbiting the Earth, the gravitational force between the Earth and the satellite provides the centripetal force needed to keep the satellite in its circular or elliptical orbit.
Last updated
About Force and Motion
Displacement, velocity and acceleration describe motion, including the horizontal and vertical components of projectile motion. The chapter connects these quantities with Newton's laws, momentum and impulse, then applies conservation of momentum to collisions, distinguishing elastic collisions from inelastic ones.
Practise Force and Motion
1,416 free Force and Motion MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Exams that ask Physics questions like this
Physics is on 13 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
Related questions
(1, 1, 1) . (2, 2, 2)
1st law of motion gives the definition of:
2nd law of motion measures which quantity?
7.0 kg bowling ball experience a net force of 5.0N. What will be its acceleration?
A 0.2 kg rubber ball is dropped from the window of a building. It strikes the sidewalk below at 30m/s and rebounds up at 20m/s. The impulse on the ball during the collision is: