The average speed of an orbiting space shuttle is 19700 mi/h. The shuttle is orbiting about 125 mi above the Earth’s surface. Assume the Earth’s radius is 3963 mi.
How long does it take to circle the earth? Answer in units of h.
r = 3963 + 125
circumference of orbit = 2 pi r
time = circumference /19700
To answer this question, we can use the formula for circumference, which is C = 2πr, where C is the circumference and r is the radius. In this case, the radius is the sum of the Earth's radius and the altitude of the shuttle above the Earth's surface.
First, let's calculate the total radius of the orbit:
Total radius = Earth's radius + Altitude
Total radius = 3963 mi + 125 mi
Total radius = 4088 mi
Next, we can calculate the circumference of the orbit by using the formula:
Circumference = 2π × Total radius
Circumference = 2 × 3.14 × 4088 mi
Circumference = 25734.08 mi
Now, to find the time it takes for the space shuttle to complete one orbit, we can use the formula:
Time = Distance / Speed
Distance = Circumference
Speed = 19700 mi/h
Time = 25734.08 mi / 19700 mi/h
Time ≈ 1.306 hours
Therefore, it takes approximately 1.306 hours (or 1 hour and 18 minutes) for the space shuttle to complete one orbit around the Earth.