Question

A cosmonaut is orbiting the earth is a spacecraft at an altitude h = 630 km with a speed of 8 km/s. The radius of the earth is 6400 km. What is the approximate value of the acceleration of the cosmonaut?

• A. $10m/s^2$
• B. $9.10m/s^2$
• C. $8m/s^2$
• D. $11m/s^2$

Answer 1

The correct option is B $9.10m/s^2$

$\begin{array}{c}Given,v=8km/s=8000m/s\\ r=\left(6400+630\right)km=\left(6400+630\right)\times 1000m\\ a=\frac{v^2}{r}\\ a=\frac{{\left(8000\right)}^2}{\left(6400+630\right)\times 1000m}=9.10m/s^2\end{array}$

Hence,

option $\left(B\right)$ is correct answer.