Question

Is a satellite moving around the Earth in a circular orbit accelerated? Explain.

Answer 1

Satellites moving around the earth

1. When a satellite moves around the earth in a circular orbit, there is a force acting on the satellite which keeps the satellite moving around the earth in that orbit called centripetal force.
2. During the movement of the satellite, this centripetal force is acting along the radius of the circular orbit.
3. So we can say that the satellite is having an acceleration directed towards the center.
4. In another way we can say that as the satellite moves in a circular orbit in a uniform circular motion, the direction of motion of the object changes continuously which shows that the motion is accelerated motion.

Thus, the answer is yes, the motion of the satellite moving around the earth in a circular orbit is an accelerated motion.