Orbits (Also seen in GCSE Physics 3)

For anything to stay in orbit it requires two things:

*A centripetal force, caused by the gravitational force acting between the object orbiting and the object being orbited

*To be moving at a high speed

We now know equations for calculating the centripetal force of an object moving in a circle of radius r AND for calculating the gravitational force between two masses separated by a distance of r.

Geostationary Orbits (Also seen in GCSE Physics 3)

Geostationary orbiting satellites orbit around the equator from West to East. They stay above the same point on the equator meaning that the time period is 24 hours or seconds. They are used for communication satellites such as television or mobile phone signals.