* Orbital Mechanics: A satellite's velocity is determined by its orbital path and the gravitational pull of the Earth. The higher the satellite's orbit, the weaker the Earth's gravitational pull.
* Kepler's Laws: Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion states that the square of a planet's (or satellite's) orbital period is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit. The semi-major axis is essentially the average distance from the satellite to Earth. This means:
* Satellites at higher altitudes have larger orbits (longer semi-major axes).
* To complete a full orbit, satellites at higher altitudes must travel a greater distance.
* Therefore, satellites at higher altitudes must have lower velocities to maintain their orbits.
Example:
* A low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite at an altitude of 200 km might have a velocity of around 28,000 km/h.
* A geostationary satellite at an altitude of 35,786 km has a velocity of about 11,000 km/h.
In Summary:
The velocity of a satellite is directly related to its orbital height. Satellites at higher altitudes have lower velocities, while satellites at lower altitudes have higher velocities.
