What is different about the motion of satellites that travel in elliptical paths compared to satellites that travel in circular paths?
a.
Elliptical satellites travel at a constant speed, but circular satellites do not
c.
Elliptical satellites aren't acted on by gravity, but circular satellites are
b.
Elliptical satellites don't have a constant speed, but circular satellites do
d.
Elliptical satellites are much larger than circular satellites

Question

What is different about the motion of satellites that travel in elliptical paths compared to satellites that travel in circular paths?
a.
Elliptical satellites travel at a constant speed, but circular satellites do not
c.
Elliptical satellites aren't acted on by gravity, but circular satellites are
b.
Elliptical satellites don't have a constant speed, but circular satellites do
d.
Elliptical satellites are much larger than circular satellites

anonymous · Answer

Have you ever heard of keplers law?  I only ask because it might help visualize how the speed of something traveling in an elliptical orbit versus a circular orbit would behave.

festinger · Answer

Whether elliptical or circular, they are both bound by newton's UNIVERSAL law of gravitation.

The thing about elliptical orbits is that the speed of the satellite is faster near earth, and slower far away.

The size of satellites don't matter, think newton's 2nd law.