Question 5

A satellite of mass 1 000 kg is orbiting the earth at a distance of 200 km from the surface of the earth as shown on the diagram below.

5.1 State Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation in words. (2)

5.2 Calculate the magnitude of the force that the earth exerts on the satellite to
keep it in orbit. (5)

5.3 Calculate the weight of the satellite on the earth surface. (3)

5.4 The same satellite is now orbiting the earth at a distance twice the radius of the earth from the centre of the earth. Without any further calculations, determine the force that the earth exerts on the satellite at the new distance. Explain how you arrived at your answer. (3)

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