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Planet g m/s2
Mercury 3.7
= GM Venus 8.9
g 2 Earth 9.8
R Moon 1.6
Mars 3.7
This equation also shows that Jupiter 26
g will decrease with altitude: Saturn 12 no solid
e.g. At 100 km height g = 9.53 m/s2 Uranus 11 surface
Earth Earth
Epicycle
Fixed
Earth orbit stars
Same field
direction
Result: Earth moves faster in orbit and Mars appears
to move backwards at certain times.
Copernicus heliocentric model assumed circular orbits but
careful observations by Tycho Brahe (the last great naked
eye astronomer) showed not true
Kepler (17th century, Brahes student) developed three laws
based on emperical analysis of Brahes extensive data
slo
planet moves faster
w
when nearer the Sun.
fast
Sun
G m1 m2
F= r2
Using Keplers 3rd law, Newton calculated:
2 4 D2
3
= = constant (for a given ' m' )
r Gm
where: m = mass of Sun for the planetary motions, but
m = mass of Earth for the Moons motion.
= GM
vor
Results: r
Any satellite regardless of its mass (provided M m)
will move in a circular orbit or radius r and velocity vor.
The larger the orbital altitude, the lower the required
tangential velocity!
Example: Low Earth orbit: altitude 600 km)
v or =
GM
=
(6.67 !10 )! (5.98 !10 )
"11 " 24
r 6970 !103
= 7.6 km/s (or 27 103 km/hr)
Planetary Orbital Velocity:
km/s
Larger the orbit,
M the lower the speed
vor
r
M = mass of the
Sun
Mean Distance (Astronomical Units)
Qu: How to achieve orbit?
Launch vehicle rises initially vertical (minimum air drag).
Gradually rolls over and on separation of payload is moving
tangentially at speed vor produces circular orbit.
1.5 x 10 8 km Earth
( 400 Rmoon)
Sun Moon
F 1
r2
Gravitational attraction between Earth and Moon provides
centripetal acceleration for orbit.
Suns gravitation distorts lunar orbital ellipse. (Orbit
oscillates about true elliptical path.)
Moon
The only satellite Newton could study and played a key
role in his discoveries Half moon
Phases known since Sun light
prehistoric times
New Full
Moonlight is moon moon
reflected sunlight. Earth