Forces acting on a satellite. (1 Viewer)

[locked.on]

What are the forces acting on a satellite orbiting Earth?

Would it be sufficient just to state the following for an answer in the HSC?
http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/physics/core/space/9_2_2/922net.html#net14

Thanks in advance.

 

[tommykins]

yes i guess you can say that as just centripetal force due to the gravitational field of the earth.

 

[RiSeAgAiNSt2538]

yeah. the only force is the centripetal force as the object is not accelerating as if it was accelerating it would not be in uniform circular motion. its velocity must remain constant

 

[dolbinau]

Isn't the object accelerating when it changes direction?

 

[samwell]

The object is accelerating bcoz velocity is a vector quantity. But though i think he means the speed is not increasing or decreasing in the motion.

 

[bazookie]

all you have to say is:

The only force acting on a satellite is the centripetal force provided by the gravitational attraction from the earth. Force is towards the direction of the earth whilst velocity is the actual direction it is moving. The satellite is always accelerating because velocity is a vector and since it is in uniform circular motion, the direction is always changing, thus it is accelerating.