A space shuttle is 200 m below the International Space Station. Both are in circ

Question

A space shuttle is 200 m below the International Space Station. Both are in circular orbits around the Earth. The crew of the shuttle would like be in the same orbit at the station. Should they increase or decrease their their orbital velocity (vshuttle above)? This question is not asking about the velocity of the shuttle up or down, only the velocity tangential to its orbit. Also, assume that the acceleration due to gravity does not change between the orbit of the shuttle and the orbit of the space station.

A. The shuttle should decrease its velocity.

B. We can't say without knowing the inital velocity of the shuttle.

C. The shuttle should increase its velocity.

A. The shuttle should decrease its velocity.

B. We can't say without knowing the inital velocity of the shuttle.

C. The shuttle should increase its velocity.

Explanation / Answer

The difference in radius = R2-R1 = 200m.

In the orbital motion we can write the force balancing equation along the center(centripital motion) as follows:

Force, F = GMm/R^2 = mv^2/R

v = sqrt(GM/R)

to be in stations' orbit shuttle has to increase its radius and every thing else is constant hence the veocity will have to be decreased.

'A' is correct.

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