Q13 of 81 Page 223

A nut becomes loose and gets detached from a satellite revolving around the earth. Will it land on the earth? If yes, where will it land? If no, how can an astronaut make it land on the earth?

Once in orbit, the centripetal force acts on the object, which maintains the orbit. To leave the orbit one needs to propel itself towards the earth. Hence, the nut will revolve around the earth. Astronauts need to increase it velocity in a direction towards the earth to land.


More from this chapter

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11

The weight of a body at the poles is greater than the weight at the equator. Is it the actual weight or the apparent weight we are talking about? Does your answer depend on whether only the earth’s rotation is taken into account or the flattering of the earth’s at the poles is also taken into account?

 12

If the radius of the earth decrease by 1% without changing its mass, will the acceleration due to gravity at the surface of the earth increase or decrease? If so, by what per cent?

 14

Is it necessary for the plane of the orbit of a satellite to pass through the Centre of the earth?

 15

Consider earth satellites in circular orbits. A geostationary satellite must be at a height of about 36000 Km from the earth’s surface. Will any satellite moving at this height be a geostationary satellite? Will any satellite moving at this height have a time period of 24 hours?