The Earth exerts the necessary centripetal force on an orbiting satellite to keep it moving in a circle at constant speed. Which one of the following statements best explains why the speed of the satellite does not change although there is a net force exerted on it? A)The satellite is in equilibrium. B)The acceleration of the satellite is zero m/s². C)The centripetal force has magnitude mv²/r. D)The centripetal force is canceled by the reaction force. E)The centripetal force is always perpendicular to the velocity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The centripetal force is always perpendicular to the velocity, so it changes the direction of the velocity but not its magnitude, keeping the speed constant.

The Earth Exerts the Necessary Centripetal Force on an Orbiting