Orbital motion of artificial satellites: relationship between radius and speed
I can describe changes to a satellite’s speed and velocity and explain what happens to its orbital radius if its speed changes.
Orbital motion of artificial satellites: relationship between radius and speed
I can describe changes to a satellite’s speed and velocity and explain what happens to its orbital radius if its speed changes.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Artificial satellites orbit Earth because of the gravitational attraction between them.
- The speed of a satellite along its orbit around Earth is constant.
- The velocity of a satellite along its orbit around Earth constantly changes as it changes direction.
- The centripetal force on a satellite makes it accelerate and change direction, but not speed.
- To orbit in a stable orbit, the orbital radius of a satellite must change if its speed changes.
Common misconception
Motion is always in the direction of the force acting on an object.
Provide pupils with opportunity to experience a radial force changing the direction of a small object in order to make it move in a circular path.
Keywords
Satellite - an object which orbits a planet; satellites can be natural (moons) or artificial
Polar orbit - an orbit in which the satellite passes over the poles of a planet
Geostationary orbit - an orbit in which the satellite is stationary in the sky as it orbits in the same time as the planet, directly above its equator
Orbital path - the path a satellite takes around the planet it orbits
Orbital radius - the radius of an orbit, measured from the centre of a planet
Equipment
Thin plastic tubes (e.g. shells of ballpoint pens), rubber bung, strong thread, masses and mass holder.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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