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AP Physics C: Mechanics
6.6 Motion of Orbiting Satellites
6.4 Conservation of Angular Momentum
IntermediateMCQMathematicalProportional AnalysisConceptual16.4k
A satellite in an elliptical orbit around a central planet.
A satellite in an elliptical orbit around a central planet.
A satellite of mass \(m\) moves in an elliptical orbit around a planet of mass \(M\), where \(M \gg m\). The distance from the center of the planet to the satellite at periapsis is \(r_p\), and the distance at apoapsis is \(r_a = 4r_p\). What is the ratio \(\dfrac{v_p}{v_a}\) of the satellite's speed at periapsis to its speed at apoapsis?

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