Question

A body is suspended from a spring balance kept in a satellite. The reading of the balance is W₁ when the satellite goes in an orbit of radius R and is W₂ when it goes in an orbit of radius 2 −R.
(a) W₁ = W₂
(b) W₁ < W₂
(c) W₁ > W₂
(d) $W_1\ne W_2$.

Answer 1

(a) W₁ = W₂

The gravitational pull on the satellite in both cases is used up in providing the necessary centripetal force required for its revolution around the earth. This means that there is no net force acting on the body which has been suspended from a spring balance in the satellite. So, the readings of the spring balance in both the cases are the same and is equal to zero.