An artificial satellite is moving around Mercury. A tracking system records the satellite's position and direction of motion at 30-minute intervals. The words above, below, left and right refer to positions on the tracking display.
| Time in minutes | Position relative to the centre of Mercury | Distance from the centre of Mercury in km | Direction of motion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | directly to the right | 4900 | directly upwards |
| 30 | halfway between directly to the right and directly above | 4900 | upwards and to the left |
| 60 | directly above | 4900 | directly to the left |
Explain how the data provide evidence that an inward force is acting on the satellite.
Suggest the satellite's position and direction of motion at 90 minutes if the pattern continues.
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.