Problem 9-76 Geosynchronous orbit - Part 5 - B
Most telecommunications satellites are in geosynchronous orbits above the earth, that is, they have periods of \(24 \;h.\) As a result, since the earth turns on its axis once in \(24\; h\) and each satellite goes around the earth once in \(24\; h,\) any individual satellite stays positioned above a particular point on the earth. (a) How far above the earth's surface must a geosynchronous satellite be? The earth's mass and average radius are \(5.98 \times 10^{24}\; kg\) and \(6368 \;km.\) (b) What is the satellite's speed?
Accumulated Solution
\(F = GmM/r^2\)
No. That is not the expression for centripetal force. If you check the units you will see that is so.
\(F = mv^2r | \text{Units of} \; F =[\text{mass}][\text{acceleration}] = M·LT^{-2} \\ \text{Units of} \; mv^2r | = M·L^2T^{-2}·L = ML^3T^{-2}\)
These are not the same so the equation cannot be right.