Question

If suddenly the gravitational force of attraction between earth and satellite revolving around it becomes zero, then the satellite will.

A. Continue to move in its orbit with same velocity
B. Move tangential to the original orbit with the same velocity
C. Becomes stationary in its orbit
D. Move towards the earth

Answer 1

Hint: The centrifugal force when the frame of reference is non-inertial then a particle in a circular motion is because of the effect of the acceleration that is with respect to the inertial frame of reference, here in this case it is due to the gravity of the earth that the satellite was inside the orbit but as soon as the gravitational force becomes zero the satellite follows a slingshot motion.

Complete step by step answer:

Here in the above diagram, we see that a satellite is revolving around the earth, there must be a centrifugal force acting on the satellite which is revolving the satellite in the earth’s orbit.
Now, we can write the centrifugal force acting between earth and satellite as,
${{F}_{e}}=\dfrac{{{G}_{{{m}_{e}}{{m}_{s}}}}}{{{r}^{2}}}$ ,${{G}_{{{m}_{e}}{{m}_{s}}}}$is the gravitational force between the earth and the satellite, r is the distance from earth and satellite.
Now according to the question if we suddenly make the value of ${{F}_{e}}=0$, then the centrifugal force acting on the satellite will be zero, but because the satellite was moving so it has still got some amount of velocity, now as the gravitational pull is not there the satellite will leave the earth’s orbit and it will be released tangentially with the same velocity that it was having from the same position where ${{F}_{e}}=0$, is occurring.

Hence, the correct answer is option B.

Note:
The force acting between the satellite and the earth is the gravitational force of the earth and satellite. We must remember the formula to find the centrifugal force. When suddenly making the value of gravitational force as zero the satellite already has a velocity because we must remember that the satellite was moving and suddenly it can't be stopped.