This is the question in my homework:
In orbiting the Earth, what kind of motion is it, uniformly velocity, uniformly accelerated or non-uniformly accelerated motion?
I have searched for almost an hour on the internet in any variety of those terms I could think of, and I still have found nothing on these subjects. Would someone be able to help me with this? Thanks.
Since the accleration vector keeps changing direction (always pointing to the center of the Earth), satellite motion is nonuniformly accelerated motion.
Of course, I'll be happy to help you with your homework question!
In order to determine the type of motion involved in orbiting the Earth, we need to understand the concepts of uniformly velocity, uniformly accelerated, and non-uniformly accelerated motion.
Uniformly velocity motion refers to a constant speed in a straight line. This means that an object moves with the same velocity at all times.
Uniformly accelerated motion occurs when an object's velocity changes at a constant rate. This means that the object's speed increases or decreases by the same amount over equal intervals of time.
Non-uniformly accelerated motion, on the other hand, refers to a situation where an object's velocity changes at a varying rate. This means that the object's speed increases or decreases by different amounts over equal intervals of time.
In the case of orbiting the Earth, it is considered to be non-uniformly accelerated motion. This is because the speed of an object in orbit is not constant but varies as it moves around the Earth. The gravitational force acting on the object causes it to experience acceleration, which continuously changes its velocity.
To find this answer, you might not have been able to find a direct source explaining this specific scenario of orbiting the Earth. However, by understanding the concepts of motion and how the velocity of an object changes in an orbit, you can deduce that it is non-uniformly accelerated motion.
I hope this helps clarify your understanding and provides the needed information for your homework. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!