Question

The centripetal force acting on a satellite revolving around earth is $F$. The gravitational force on earth due to satellites is also $F$. The resultant force on satellite is
(A) Zero
(B) $F$
(C) $2F$
(D) \[\dfrac{F}{2}\]

Answer 1

Hint We know that necessary centripetal force is required to bind a satellite in particular orbit. This centripetal force is always equal to gravitational force between earth and satellite. Both satellite and earth applied equal and opposite force on each other.

Complete step by step solution
A satellite is an object revolving around earth in particular orbit with some fixed angular velocity. A satellite is bound in a fixed orbital due to balancing of centripetal force due to gravitational force and centrifugal force due to rotation of satellite.
Means there is only one force that is applied on satellite because the centripetal force and gravitational force is a single force not two different forces.
We have given that the centripetal force on the satellite due to earth is $F$. Then the resultant force on the satellite is $F$.

Hence the correct answer is option B.

Note There is minimum velocity required to bind a satellite in a particular orbit which is known as binding velocity. If the velocity of satellite is less than binding velocity, then satellite crashes on earth but we increase the speed of a satellite then satellite changes its orbit.