The geostationary orbit of the earth is at a distance of about 36000 km from the earth's surface. Find the weight of a 120-kg equipment placed in a geostationary satellite. The radius of the earth is 6400 km.

Given


The radius of the earth = 6400 km.


weight of equipment = 120-kg


Also, the geostationary orbit of the earth is at a distance of about 36000 km from the earth's surface.


We know that the value acceleration due to gravity above the surface of the Earth is given by-



Where,


G= universal gravitational constant


m = mass of the object


R= radius of the earth and


h = height from surface of earth


Substituting the values and calculating g’ for h = 36000km, we will get



At surface of earth, acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s2




Taking their ratios





Now, the required satellite weight will be-




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