Chapter 12, Problem 34PCE

Predict/Calculate (a) Calculate the orbital period of a satellite that orbits at two Earth radii above the surface of the Earth. (b) If the Earth suddenly became more massive while the satellite remains in circular orbit at the same altitude, will the orbital period increase, decrease, or remain the same? (c) Calculate the orbital period of the satellite if the Earth’s mass were to double to 1.194 × 10²⁵ kg and everything else were to remain the same.