Questions from Modern Physics


Q: On July 15, 2004, NASA launched the Aura spacecraft to

On July 15, 2004, NASA launched the Aura spacecraft to study the earth’s climate and atmosphere. This satellite was injected into an orbit 705 km above the earth’s surface. Assume a circular orbit. (a...

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Q: Two satellites are in circular orbits around a planet that has radius

Two satellites are in circular orbits around a planet that has radius 9.00 × 106m. One satellite has mass 68.0 kg, orbital radius 7.00 × 107m, and orbital speed 4800 m/s. The second satellite has mas...

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Q: In its orbit each day, the International Space Station makes 15

In its orbit each day, the International Space Station makes 15.65 revolutions around the earth. Assuming a circular orbit, how high is this satellite above the surface of the earth?

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Q: Deimos, a moon of Mars, is about 12 km in

Deimos, a moon of Mars, is about 12 km in diameter with mass 1.5 × 1015 kg. Suppose you are stranded alone on Deimos and want to play a one-person game of baseball. You would be the pitcher, and you w...

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Q: Suppose that a planet was discovered between the sun and Mercury,

Suppose that a planet was discovered between the sun and Mercury, with a circular orbit of radius equal to 2 3 of the average orbit radius of Mercury. What would be the orbital period of such a planet...

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Q: The star Rho1 Cancri is 57 light-years from the earth

The star Rho1 Cancri is 57 light-years from the earth and has a mass 0.85 times that of our sun. A planet has been detected in a circular orbit around Rho1 Cancri with an orbital radius equal to 0.11...

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Q: A spaceship makes a circular orbit with period T around a star

A spaceship makes a circular orbit with period T around a star. If it were to orbit, at the same distance, a star with three times the mass of the original star, would the new period (in terms of T) b...

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Q: Two identical gliders on an air track are connected by an ideal

Two identical gliders on an air track are connected by an ideal spring. Could such a system undergo SHM? Explain. How would the period compare with that of a single glider attached to a spring whose o...

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Q: In March 2006, two small satellites were discovered orbiting Pluto,

In March 2006, two small satellites were discovered orbiting Pluto, one at a distance of 48,000 km and the other at 64,000 km. Pluto already was known to have a large satellite Charon, orbiting at 19,...

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Q: The dwarf planet Pluto has an elliptical orbit with a semimajor axis

The dwarf planet Pluto has an elliptical orbit with a semimajor axis of 5.91 × 1012 m and eccentricity 0.249. (a) Calculate Pluto’s orbital period. Express your answer in seconds and in earth years. (...

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