A probe is placed in a circular orbit above the surface of Mars

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences

Problem

A probe is placed in a circular orbit

400\,\text{km}

above the surface of Mars. Given:

M_{\rm Mars}=6.42\times10^{23}\,\text{kg}

R_{\rm Mars}=3.39\times10^{6}\,\text{m}

G=6.67\times10^{-11}\,\text{N\,m}^2\,\text{kg}^{-2}

. (a) Calculate the orbital speed of the probe. (b) Determine the time it takes to complete one revolution around Mars (orbital period).