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Could someone please explain to me how to solve the following problems?
Thanks in advance!
2.8b
What happens to the centripetal acceleration of a space shuttle, if it goes into a higher orbit but keeps its tangential speed fixed?
A. The acceleration increases, because the orbital radius increases.
B. The acceleration increases, because the angular velocity decreases.
C. The acceleration decreases, because the orbital radius increases.
D. The acceleration decreases, because the angular velocity increases.
I thought that the correct answer would be a. I used the equation Ac= w(angular velocity)^2 * r
w is constant, and Ac is directly proportional to r. So wouldnt Ac increase as r increases?
The book lists the correct answer as C
Thanks in advance!
2.8b
What happens to the centripetal acceleration of a space shuttle, if it goes into a higher orbit but keeps its tangential speed fixed?
A. The acceleration increases, because the orbital radius increases.
B. The acceleration increases, because the angular velocity decreases.
C. The acceleration decreases, because the orbital radius increases.
D. The acceleration decreases, because the angular velocity increases.
I thought that the correct answer would be a. I used the equation Ac= w(angular velocity)^2 * r
w is constant, and Ac is directly proportional to r. So wouldnt Ac increase as r increases?
The book lists the correct answer as C
