14.13 : Circular Orbits and Critical Velocity for Satellites

The Moon orbits around the Earth. In turn, the Earth (and other planets) orbit the Sun. The space directly above our atmosphere is filled with artificial satellites in orbit. One can examine the circular orbit, the simplest kind of orbit, to understand the relationship between the speed and the period of planets and satellites with respect to their positions and the bodies that they orbit.

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) first suggested that the Earth and all other planets orbit the Sun in circles. He further noted that orbital periods increased with distance from the Sun. Later, an analysis by Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) showed that these orbits are actually ellipses, although the orbits of most planets in the solar system are nearly circular. A circular orbit is a result of a tangential velocity such that the Earth's surface curves away at the same rate that the object falls towards the Earth. The Earth's orbital distance from the Sun varies by a mere 2%. An exception is the eccentric orbit of Mercury, whose orbital distance varies by nearly 40%.Determining the orbital speed and orbital period of a satellite is much easier for circular orbits.

This text is adapted from Openstax, University Physics Volume 1, Section 13.4: Satellite Orbits and Energy.