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Grade 6Mechanics

The time period of an earth satellite in circular & orbit is independent of
(a) both the mass and radius of the orbit
(b) ' radius of its orbit
(c) the mass of the satellite
(d) neither the mass of the satellite nor the radius of its orbit

Profile image of Lokesh kumar
12 Years agoGrade 6
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1 Answer

Profile image of Deepak Patra
12 Years ago

(c) We have, mv2 / R+ x = GmM / ( R + x )2

x = height of satellite from earth surface

m = mass of satellite

? v2 = GM/( R+x ) or v = vGM/R+x

T = 2p (R + x) /v = 2p (R + x ) /vGM/R+x

This is independent of mass of satellite