As a satellite orbits in an elliptical path, the force of gravitation is greatest at the times when it is closest to the Earth ; this force causes a greater acceleration and speed of the satellite along these nearest locations of its orbit.
Where is gravitational force the greatest?
In the case of the earth, the force of gravity is greatest on its surface and gradually decreases as you move away from its centre (as a square of the distance between the object and the center of the Earth). Of course, the earth is not a uniform sphere so the gravitational field around it is not uniform.
Which satellite has the greatest gravitational force?
As a satellite orbits in an elliptical path, the force of gravitation is greatest at the times when it is closest to the Earth ; this force causes a greater acceleration and speed of the satellite along these nearest locations of its orbit.
Which star has the greatest gravitational force?
The Sun has a much bigger mass. It has the strongest gravitational pull of all the objects in our Solar System. It pulls all eight planets towards its centre and keeps them in their orbits. But the Sun is not the only star in our galaxy.
What is the gravitational force on the satellite?
If its speed is too high, the satellite will break free of Earth’s gravity and escape. If it is too low, it will fall back to Earth. When a satellite is in circular orbit, gravity is the only force acting on it, which means that the centripetal force and gravity must be equal: Fc = Fg .
Why does the speed of a satellite not change?
6. The speed of a satellite in circular orbit around a planet does not depend on the mass of the satellite . ... The mass of the planet is what creates this gravitational field, and it doesn’t cancel out. The mass of the satellite does cancel out because it shows up both in the gravitational force and in the inertia (ma).
Does a satellite move?
A satellite orbits Earth when its speed is balanced by the pull of Earth’s gravity. Without this balance, the satellite would fly in a straight line off into space or fall back to Earth. ... It moves in the same direction and at the same rate Earth is spinning.
Where is gravity weakest on Earth?
In addition, gravity is weaker at the equator due to centrifugal forces produced by the planet’s rotation. It’s also weaker at higher altitudes, further from Earth’s centre, such as at the summit of Mount Everest.
What planet has the weakest gravitational pull?
The gravity of Mars is a natural phenomenon, due to the law of gravity, or gravitation, by which all things with mass around the planet Mars are brought towards it. It is weaker than Earth’s gravity due to the planet’s smaller mass.
What part of Canada has less gravity?
Canada’s Hudson Bay Has Less Gravity Than The Rest Of The World.
What planet has most gravity?
The gravity on Jupiter is greater than the gravity on Earth because Jupiter is more massive. Although Jupiter is a great deal larger in size, its surface gravity is just 2.4 times that of the surface gravity of Earth.
What planet has strongest gravity?
Jupiter is the largest in our Solar System, meaning it also has the highest gravity. You would weigh two and a half times on Jupiter than what you would on Earth. Gravity is a fundamental force of physics, which keeps everything attracted to the earth’s surface.
What is the weakest of the four forces of nature?
Though gravity holds planets, stars, solar systems and even galaxies together, it turns out to be the weakest of the fundamental forces, especially at the molecular and atomic scales.
How high are geosynchronous satellites?
A geosynchronous orbit is a high Earth orbit that allows satellites to match Earth’s rotation. Located at 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above Earth’s equator , this position is a valuable spot for monitoring weather, communications and surveillance.
How does a satellite remain in orbit?
So really, a satellites ability to maintain its orbit comes down to a balance between two factors: its velocity (or the speed at which it would travel in a straight line), and the gravitational pull between the satellite and the planet it orbits . The higher the orbit, the less velocity is required.
