Question

With respect to a satellite going around the earth in a circular orbit, which of the following statements are wrong?

• A. It is a freely falling body.
• B. It suffers no acceleration.
• C. It is moving at a constant speed.
• D. Its angular momentum remains constant.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

It suffers no acceleration.

For any body moving around the earth in a circular orbit, the speed remains constant with time but the direction changes, hence the velocity changes. As the velocity keeps on changing, the body cannot have zero acceleration.
Also, the centripetal force acting on the body is equal to the gravitational pull of the earth. Under the influence of acceleration due to gravity, the body can be said to be in a state of free fall.