A ball is released from a satellite orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 120 km. What will happen to the ball?

It will keep moving with the same speed in a straight line tangent to the satellite’s path at that instant.
It will keep moving with the same speed in a circular path like the satellite.
It will slowly descend toward the Earth.
It will move away into outer space.

Correct answer: It will keep moving with the same speed in a circular path like the satellite.

Solution

When released, the ball already has the satellite's orbital speed and is in free fall, so it continues moving along the same circular orbit as the satellite, staying alongside it rather than flying off or falling straight down.

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