Question:medium

A remote-sensing satellite of earth revolves in a circular orbit at a height of $0.25 \times 10^6\, m$ above the surface of earth. If earth's radius is $6.38 \times 10^6$ m and $g = 9.8 \,ms^{-2}$, then the orbital speed of the satellite is

Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • $9.13 \,km\,s^{-1}$
  • $6.67 \, km\,s^{-1}$
  • $7.76 \, km\,s^{-1}$
  • $8.56 \, km\,s^{-1}$
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

To determine the orbital speed of the satellite, we follow these steps:

  1. First, understand that the satellite is revolving in a circular orbit. The formula for orbital speed \(v\) of a satellite in orbit is given by: v = \sqrt{\frac{GM}{r}} where \(G\) is the gravitational constant, \(M\) is the mass of the Earth, and \(r\) is the distance from the center of the Earth to the satellite.
  2. From the problem, the height of the satellite above the Earth's surface is 0.25 \times 10^6\, m. The radius of the Earth is 6.38 \times 10^6\, m. Thus, the distance from the center of the Earth to the satellite is: r = 6.38 \times 10^6\, m + 0.25 \times 10^6\, m = 6.63 \times 10^6\, m.
  3. We use the relation between gravitational acceleration \(g\) at the Earth's surface and the gravitational constant \(G\): \[ g = \frac{GM}{R^2} \] where \(R\) is the Earth's radius. We rearrange it to find \(GM\): \[ GM = gR^2 \] Plugging in the values, \(g = 9.8\, \text{m/s}^2\) and \(R = 6.38 \times 10^6\, m\), we have: \[ GM = 9.8 \times (6.38 \times 10^6)^2 \]
  4. Now, substitute the value of \(GM\) and \(r\) into the orbital speed formula: \[ v = \sqrt{\frac{9.8 \times (6.38 \times 10^6)^2}{6.63 \times 10^6}} \] Calculating this gives us the orbital speed: \[ v \approx 7763\, \text{m/s} \] In km/s, this is approximately 7.76 \, \text{km/s}.
  5. Therefore, the correct option for the orbital speed of the satellite is 7.76 \, km\,s^{-1}.

The correct answer is confirmed as 7.76 \, km\,s^{-1}.

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