Question

orbits of satellites quick check
which factor is not needed when calculating the velocity of a satellite orbiting a planet? (1 point)
○ the mass of the planet
○ the universal gravitational constant
○ the orbital radius of the satellite
○ the mass of the satellite

Explanation:

To calculate the orbital velocity of a satellite, we use the formula \( v = \sqrt{\frac{GM}{r}} \), where \( G \) is the universal gravitational constant, \( M \) is the mass of the planet, and \( r \) is the orbital radius. The mass of the satellite (\( m \)) does not appear in this formula, so it is not needed for the calculation.

Answer:

D. the mass of the satellite