The centripetal force required to maintain the satellite’s circular motion is supplied by the satellite’s gravitational pull. The following formula provides the gravitational force between Earth and the satellite:
F = G(Mm)/r2
The universal gravitational constant is denoted by G.
Given that the centripetal force is provided by gravity, we have:
F = mv2/r
When we combine the two equations above, we obtain:
G(Mm)/r2 = mv2/r
When we simplify this equation, we obtain:
v2 = GM/r
Consequently, v2 = GM/r gives the speed of a satellite in a circular orbit with radius r around the Earth.
The centripetal force required to maintain the satellite’s circular motion is supplied by the satellite’s gravitational pull. The following formula provides the gravitational force between Earth and the satellite:
F = G(Mm)/r2
The universal gravitational constant is denoted by G.
Given that the centripetal force is provided by gravity, we have:
F = mv2/r
When we combine the two equations above, we obtain:
G(Mm)/r2 = mv2/r
When we simplify this equation, we obtain:
v2 = GM/r
Consequently, v2 = GM/r gives the speed of a satellite in a circular orbit with radius r around the Earth.