Satellite Orbit Disruption – Rankers Physics
Topic: Gravitation
Subtopic: Planet and Satellite

Satellite Orbit Disruption

Assertion (A): An artificial satellite is moving in a circular orbit of the earth. If the gravitational pull suddenly disappears, then it moves with the same speed tangential to the original orbit.
Reason (R): The orbital speed of a satellite decreases with the increase in radius of the orbit.
 
Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
(A) is true but (R) is false
Both (A) and (R) are false

Solution:

Assertion (A) is true due to inertia (Newton's First Law). Reason (R) is true as orbital speed \(v = \sqrt{GM/r}\) decreases with increasing \(r\).

However, R does not explain A; A is a consequence of inertia, not the relation between orbital speed and radius.

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