Suppose an artificial satellite is in a circular orbit about the Earth.What can be said about the acceleration of the satellite?
A)Its acceleration is zero
B)It is accelerating because its speed changes constantly
C)It is accelerating because its direction changes constantly
D)We can tell if it is accelerating only if we can measure the force on it

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The satellite is accelerating because, even though its speed might remain constant, its direction is constantly changing as it moves in a circular orbit. This change in direction means there is a centripetal acceleration directed towards the center of the orbit, which is a characteristic of circular motion.

Suppose an Artificial Satellite Is in a Circular Orbit About