Differential Calculus Question :

A satellite is in an elliptical orbit around the Earth. Its distance r (in miles) from the center of the Earth is given by
$$r=\frac{4995}{1+0.12cos\theta}$$
where d is the angle measured from the point on the orbit nearest the Earth's surface.

(a) Find the altitude of the satellite at perigee (the point nearest the surface of the Earth) and at apogee (the point farthest from the surface of the Earth). Use 3960 mi as the radius of fie Earth.

Question

Differential Calculus Question :

A satellite is in an elliptical orbit around the Earth. Its distance r (in miles)  from the  center of the Earth is given  by
$$r=\frac{4995}{1+0.12cos\theta}$$
where d is the angle measured  from  the point  on the orbit nearest the Earth's surface.

(a) Find the altitude of the satellite at perigee  (the point nearest the surface of the Earth)  and  at apogee (the  point farthest  from the surface of the Earth). Use 3960 mi as the radius of fie Earth.

shayaan_mustafa · Answer

This question has two parts, a and b

By the time now, I posted just part (a) because there is not so much space to post another.

shayaan_mustafa · Answer

Here is figure.

anonymous · Answer

Oh! I'm not sure about using differential calculus on this, but I know how you can check your answer. :-) You have an ellipse and the relationship between the major and minor radii of an ellipse relative to it's eccentricity is known. :-D http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipse#In_Euclidean_geometry Compare to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipse#Parametric_form_in_canonical_position

shayaan_mustafa · Answer

I am not getting the word, "altitude from satellite at parigee". I think it should be look like this,|dw:1342131791152:dw|

Is this altitude?