Satellites - Orbital Velocity & Period
If the horizontal velocity given to a satellite is greater than critical velocity but less than the escape velocity at the height, then the satellite will
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Answer: (d)
- At exactly the critical (orbital) speed the orbit is a circle.
- At the escape speed or more the path is open (parabola or hyperbola) and the satellite leaves.
- Between the two, the total energy is still negative, so the orbit is a closed ellipse.
- So the answer is (d) revolve in elliptical orbit.