Satellites & Orbits Multiple Choice Questions & Quizzes

An orbit is circular motion with gravity doing the centripetal job. Set \( GmM/r^2 = mv^2/r \) and the orbital speed falls out; the satellite's own mass cancels.

Expect questions on speed versus radius, period versus radius (Kepler's third law), and why astronauts float. They are in free fall, not weightless.

Practice 69 questions on Satellites & Orbits below with free multiple choice (MCQ) and quizzes, graded instantly.

Where This Topic Shows Up

AP Physics 1 in Unit 6

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Gravitation Circular Motion

Practice Questions

BeginnerThe Moon does not crash into the Earth because:
BeginnerAre astronauts really “weightless” while in orbit?
BeginnerTwo satellites, Satellite A and Satellite B, are in circular orbits of the same radius \(R\) around a planet of mass \(M_P\). Satellite B has twice th…
BeginnerSatellite A and Satellite B are in circular orbits around Earth at the same distance R from the center of the planet. Satellite B has twice the mass o…
BeginnerAn astronaut transports a solid metal tool from a laboratory on Earth's surface to the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS orbits at an altitud…
BeginnerA research satellite of mass \(m\) is in a stable circular orbit around a planet of mass \(M\), where \(M \gg m\). Let \(F_{p \text{ on } s}\) be the…
BeginnerA small research satellite of mass \(m\) is in a circular orbit around a planet of mass \(M\), where \(M \gg m\). The planet exerts a gravitational fo…
BeginnerA satellite of mass \(m\) travels in a circular orbit of radius \(R\) around a planet with a constant tangential speed \(v\). A second satellite of ma…
IntermediateA satellite circling Earth completes each orbit in \(132 \, \text{minutes}\).
IntermediateA satellite in circular orbit around the Earth moves at constant speed. This orbit is maintained by the force of gravity between the Earth and the sat…
IntermediateWhich of the following best explains why astronauts experience weightlessness while orbiting the earth?
IntermediateThe International Space Station travels at \( 7660 \, \text{m/s} \). Find the average velocity of the space station if it takes…
IntermediateIn 2014, the European Space Agency placed a satellite in orbit around comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and then landed a probe on the surface. The actu…
IntermediateConsider a neutron star with a mass equal to the sun, a radius of 10 km, and a rotation period of 1.0 s. What is the radius of a geosynchronous orbit…
IntermediateA communications satellite orbits the Earth at an altitude of \(35{,}000 \, \text{km}\) above the Earth’s surface. Take the mass of Earth to be…
IntermediateA group of astronauts in a spaceship are attempting to land on Mars. As they approach the planet, they begin to plan their descent to the surface.
AdvancedThe International Space Station has a mass of \(4.2 \times 10^{5} \, \text{kg}\) and orbits Earth at a distance of \(4.0 \times 10^{2} \, \text{km}\)…
AdvancedTwo identical satellites are placed in orbit of two different planets. Satellite \(A\) orbits Mars, and Satellite \(B\) orbits Jupiter. The orbital sp…
AdvancedThe distance from earth to sun is \(1 \, \text{AU}\). The distance from Saturn to sun is \(9 \, \text{AU}\). Find the period of Saturn's orbit in year…
AdvancedTwo satellites are in circular orbits around Earth. Satellite A has speed \(v_A\). Satellite B has an orbital radius nine times that of satellite A. W…
AdvancedA planet of constant mass orbits the sun in an elliptical orbit. Neglecting any friction effects, what happens to the planet's rotational kinetic ener…
AdvancedWhile traveling in its elliptical orbit around the Sun, Mars gains speed during the part of the orbit where it is getting closer to the Sun. Which of…
AdvancedA \(2.2 \times 10^{21} \, \text{kg}\) moon orbits a distant planet in a circular orbit of radius \(1.5 \times 10^8 \, \text{m}\). It experiences a…
AdvancedThe elliptical orbit of a comet is shown above. Positions 1 and 2 are, respectively, the farthest and nearest positions to the Sun, and at position 1…

Quizzes

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