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For a satellite moving in a circular orbit around the Earth, the orbital period does not depend on which of the following?

1. both the satellite’s mass and the orbital radius
2. the radius of the orbit
3. the mass of the satellite
4. neither the satellite’s mass nor the orbital radius

Correct answer: the mass of the satellite

Solution

The orbital period of a satellite in a circular orbit is determined by the gravitational force and the radius of the orbit, not by the mass of the satellite itself. This means that regardless of how heavy or light the satellite is, the time it takes to complete one orbit remains the same as long as the radius is constant.

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