Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Physics

Chapter

Gravitation

Question:

The time period of a satellite moving in a circular orbit around a planet is independent of : 

Options:
the mass of the satellite.

the mass of the planet.

the radius of the planet.

all the three parameters.

Correct Answer:
the mass of the satellite.
Explanation:

Time period in terms of orbital speed is given by : 

2πr/v2πr/√(GM/r) 2π√(r3/GM)

where, T = time period of satellite

M = mass of the planet

r = radius of the orbit of the satellite

From the above equation, we can see that T depends on radius of the orbit and the mass (density) of the planet but not the mass of the satellite.