A human-made probe travels in a stable circular orbit around a distant planet. Positions A and B are one-quarter of an orbit apart.
| Position | Location of probe relative to the centre of the planet | Direction of motion | Speed in km/s |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | east | north | 4.0 |
| B | north | not given | 4.0 |
Explain how the velocity of the probe changes from position A to position B. Include the directions of the gravitational force and the velocity at position B in your answer.
84 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Physics 8.1 Solar system; stability of orbital motions; satellites, covering 8.1.1 Our solar system, 8.1.2 The life cycle of a star, and 8.1.3 Orbital motion, natural and artificial satellites. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.