Passage V

The orbital energy of a satellite depends on the central body (moon or planet) around which the satellite revolves, the altitude of the satellite’s orbit, and the satellite’s mass. Table 1 lists these characteristics for each of 12 different satellites.

A satellite’s orbital period is the time required for a satellite to complete 1 revolution around its central body. Figure 1 shows a satellite’s orbital period as a function of altitude above the Moon, Mars, and Earth.

30. Consider 3 satellites: 1 orbiting the Moon, 1 orbiting Earth, and 1 orbiting Mars. Each satellite has the same mass and orbits at the same altitude above its central body. Based on Figure 1, the satellite orbiting which central body most likely completes a revolution in the least time?

Answer and Explanation

Your Answer is

Correct Answer is G

Explanation

SeeFigure 1, choose an abscissa at random, For example, select the abscissa as400 km, observe the vertical coordinates corresponding to the three lines, and find thatEarthcorresponding ordinateorbital periodis the smallest, indicating the earth'ssatelliteIt can complete a week in the shortest time.