What happens to the speed of an orbiting object if its orbital radius increases?

The greater the acceleration, the greater the change in velocity – this causes the object to move faster. This means that objects in small orbits travel faster than objects in large orbits. In order to change orbital speed, an object must change the radius of its orbit at the same time, to maintain a stable orbit.

How is orbital speed of a planet related to its orbital radius?

As seen in the equation v = SQRT(G * Mcentral / R), the mass of the central body (earth) and the radius of the orbit affect orbital speed. The orbital radius is in turn dependent upon the height of the satellite above the earth.

How does acceleration due to gravity relate to the orbital radius?

The acceleration due to gravity g is therefore proportional to the radius R. Explanation: For two satellites of equal mass in circular orbits of radii R1 and R2, The above equation is merely Kepler’s third law as applied to satellites in circular orbits.

What force causes planets to orbit?

gravity
First, gravity is the force that pulls us to the surface of the Earth, keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun and causes the formation of planets, stars and galaxies.

How is the speed of the orbiting object related to the radius of its orbital path the distance between the two objects )?

Kepler’s 2nd Law: A line connecting the Sun and planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times. That is, the orbital speed of any one planet varies inversely with its distance from the Sun (actually, orbital speed varies inversely with the square-root of the distance, but you needn’t worry about that detail).

How does gravity affect orbital speed?

Here’s how Neil DeGrasse Tyson could have been more accurate about the physics of how gravity affects orbital speed. The sun’s gravity weakens with increasing distance. So, the planets that are farther from the sun, move more slowly.”

What is the relationship between gravity and velocity of orbiting objects?

Recall that by equating the centripetal force and the gravitational force for an object in a circular orbit. We find that the orbital speed is equal to the square root of the universal gravitation constant times the mass of the body being orbited divided by the radius of the orbit.

Does orbital speed decrease with radius?

Orbital velocity decreases with radius, yet to increase altitude a spaceship must accelerate. Where does the velocity go? So in other words, v decreases as r increases.

What happens when orbital speed decreases?

This is how orbits work. If the Earth’s orbital velocity sped up, then it would go into a higher orbit to compensate. And if the Earth’s orbital velocity slowed down, then it fall into a lower orbit to compensate. The escape velocity of the Earth is about 11 km/s.

How do the planets orbit?

The gravity of the Sun keeps the planets in their orbits. They stay in their orbits because there is no other force in the Solar System which can stop them.

Why does radius increase with half the orbital velocity?

So the radius must increase by a factor of 4, to decrease the orbital velocity by a factor of 2. The circumference of the orbit has also increased by this factor of 4, and so with half the orbital velocity, the period must be 8 times longer. That can also be seen directly from Figure.

How do you calculate the orbital speed of a planet?

It relates the mass of a given planet to the gravitational constant and radius through the equation. The orbital speed formula is provided by, Where, G = gravitational constant, M = mass of planet. r = radius.

How does gravity affect the speed of a satellite in orbit?

Thus at the correct orbital speed, gravity exactly balances the satellite’s inertia. The orbital speed of the satellite depends on its altitude above the Earth. To maintain an orbit that is 35,786 km above the Earth, a satellite must orbit at the speed of about 11,300 km per hour.

What is the relationship between orbital speed and orbital period?

Slower orbital speed and a larger orbit mean that its orbital period must be longer! No equations!