Question

Consider a satellite going round the earth in a circular orbit. Which of the following statements is wrong?

• A. It is a freely falling body.
• B. It is moving with constant speed.
• C. It is acted upon by a force directed away from the centre of the earth which counter-balances the gravitational pull.
• D. Its angular momentum remains constant.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

It is acted upon by a force directed away from the centre of the earth which counter-balances the gravitational pull.

When a satellite going round the earth in a circular orbit it is not acted upon by a force directed away from the centre of the earth which counter-balances the gravitational pull.
Centrifugal force is the apparent force that draws a rotating body away from the center of rotation. It is caused by the inertia of the body as the body's path is continually redirected.

Centripetal force is a force that makes a body follow a curved path.