Question 15 Marks
A satellite is projected vertically upwards from an earth station. At what height above the earth's surface will the force on the satellite due to the earth be reduced to half its value at the earth station? (Radius of the earth is 6400km.)
Answer
View full question & answer→Let h be the height, M be the Earth's mass, R be the Earth's radius and m be the satellite's mass Force on the satellite due to the earth when it is at the Earth's surface, $\text{F}_1=\frac{\text{GMm}}{(\text{R + h})^2}$ Force on the satellite due to the earth when it is at height h above the Earth's surface, $\text{F}_2=\frac{\text{GMm}}{(\text{R + h})^2}$ According to question, we have:$\frac{\text{F}_1}{\text{F}_2}=\frac{(\text{R + h})^2}{\text{R}^2}$
$\Rightarrow2=\frac{(\text{R + h})^2}{\text{R}^2}$
Taking squareroot on both sides, we get:$\sqrt{2}=1+\frac{\text{h}}{\text{R}}$
$\Rightarrow\text{h}=(\sqrt{2}-1)\text{R}$
$=0.414\times6400=2649.6\text{km}\approx2650\text{km}$
$\Rightarrow2=\frac{(\text{R + h})^2}{\text{R}^2}$
Taking squareroot on both sides, we get:$\sqrt{2}=1+\frac{\text{h}}{\text{R}}$
$\Rightarrow\text{h}=(\sqrt{2}-1)\text{R}$
$=0.414\times6400=2649.6\text{km}\approx2650\text{km}$