04 hsc physics paper (1 Viewer)

[richz]

hello there,

would anyone be able to help me answer this question.

The docking of the Ascent Module with the Command Module resulted in an
increase in mass of the orbiting spacecraft. The spacecraft remained at the same
altitude.
This docking procedure made no difference to the orbital speed. Justify this
statement.

thnx

 

[..:''ooo]

you see,
the equiation for orbital velocity

ve = root of (2GM/r)

whcih justifies that the orbital velocity depends only on the mass of the planet that your orbiting, NOT the mass of the satellite/spacecraft.

hence an increase in mass due to docking of two modules will not influence the orbital velocity

 

[richz]

thnx, doh -_-, shud have known that.. Just found the velocity in the previous question