A research satellite of mass 200 kg circle the earth in an orbit of average radius 3R/2, where R is the radius of the earth. Assuming the gravitational pull on the mass of 1 kg on the earth's surface to be 10 N, the pull on the satellite will be :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
\(g_{eff} = g (1 + \frac{h}{R})^{-2}\)
\(g_{eff} = g (1 + \frac{1}{2})^{-2}\)
\(g_{eff} = \frac{4}{9}g\)
\(F = mg_{eff} = 200 * \frac{4}{9}*9.8\)
F = 871 N