Sunday, August 14, 2011

The Orbit Paradox?

Consider a satellite in a circular orbit about the Earth. If NASA wants to move the satellite into a higher orbit they have to boost the satellite speed and yet when the satellite is inserted into the new (higher) orbit its speed is actually less than it was in the old (lower) orbit. Is this correct? If the answer is yes, can you explain why the satellite slows down.

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