JEE MAIN - Physics (2021 - 18th March Morning Shift - No. 15)

The time period of a satellite in a circular orbit of radius R is T. The period of another satellite in a circular orbit of radius 9R is :
9 T
27 T
12 T
3 T

Explanation

Kepler's Third Law states that the square of the period of a satellite's orbit is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit. This relationship can be written as:

$$T^2 \propto r^3$$

where:

  • $T$ is the orbital period
  • $r$ is the radius of the circular orbit (which serves as the semi-major axis in this case)

Considering two satellites, one with period $T$ and radius $R$, and another with unknown period $T'$ and radius $9R$, we can form an equation:

$$\frac{{T'}^2}{T^2} = \frac{(9R)^3}{R^3}$$

This simplifies to:

$$\frac{{T'}^2}{T^2} = 729$$

Taking the square root of both sides, we get:

$$T' = T \times \sqrt{729} = T \times 27$$

So, the period of another satellite in a circular orbit of radius $9R$ is $27T$.

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