Table 1 shows telemetry data for four newly deployed artificial satellites orbiting Mars.
| Satellite | Mean distance from Mars' centre (km\text{km}km) | Time taken for one orbit (hours\text{hours}hours) |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite Alpha | 6 0006\,0006000 | 4.54.54.5 |
| Satellite Beta | 12 00012\,00012000 | 12.712.712.7 |
| Satellite Gamma | 18 00018\,00018000 | 23.423.423.4 |
| Satellite Delta | 24 00024\,00024000 | 36.036.036.0 |
Describe the relationship between the satellite's mean distance from Mars' centre and the time taken for one orbit.
Calculate the orbital speed of Satellite Beta in km/h\text{km/h}km/h. Use the equation: orbital speed=2π×mean distancetime taken for one orbit\text{orbital speed} = \frac{2\pi \times \text{mean distance}}{\text{time taken for one orbit}}orbital speed=time taken for one orbit2π×mean distance Give your answer to 3 significant figures.
Practise AQA GCSE Physics Solar system; stability of orbital motions; satellites (physics only) with exam-style questions for Foundation and Higher tier. 27 questions covering Our solar system, The life cycle of a star, and Orbital motion, natural and artificial satellites, matched to the AQA GCSE Physics (8463) specification and written in Paper 1 and Paper 2 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.