A human-made satellite is in a stable circular orbit around Venus. The table shows data for the satellite at two times.
| Time in minutes | Position relative to the centre of Venus | Speed in km/s | Direction of motion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | north | 7.2 | east |
| 23 | east | 7.2 | south |
Explain how the data show that the satellite is accelerating even though its speed is constant.
State the direction of the resultant force on the satellite at 23 minutes.
Explain 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.