Year 11 - Science
Orbital motion of artificial satellites
Gravity in space
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit covers the solar system's features, including planets, moons, and satellites. It explains gravity's effect on orbits, the sun's formation from dust and gas, and fusion equilibrium. It also explores red-shift, evidence of an expanding universe, and the link to the Big Bang model.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe changes to a satellite's speed and velocity as it orbits Earth.
Key Notes
- Artificial satellites orbit Earth because of the gravitational attraction between them.
- The speed of a satellite along its orbit around Earth is constant.
- The velocity of a satellite along its orbit around Earth constantly changes as it changes direction.
- The gravitational force on a satellite makes it accelerate and change direction, but not speed.
Vocabulary To Learn
- satellite: an object which orbits a planet; satellites can be natural (moons) or artificial
- polar orbit: an orbit in which the satellite passes over the poles of a planet
- geostationary orbit: an orbit in which the satellite is stationary in the sky as it orbits in the same time as the planet, directly above its equator
- orbital path: the path a satellite takes around the planet it orbits
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Motion is always in the direction of the force acting on an object.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Artificial satellites orbit Earth because of the gravitational attraction between them. The speed of a satellite along its orbit around Earth is constant.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'satellite'
an object which orbits a planet; satellites can be natural (moons) or artificial. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Motion is always in the direction of the force acting on an object. Correction: Provide pupils with opportunity to experience a radial force changing the direction of a small object in order to make it move in a circular path.
More Lessons In This Unit
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