The first artificial satellite to orbit Earth was Sputnik I, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. The orbit was an ellipse with Earth's center as one focus. The orbit's highest point above Earth's surface was 583 miles, and its lowest point was 132 miles.a) find an equation of the orbit.b) how far from Earth is the other focus?c) What is the length of the major axis?

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AFOKE88 AFOKE88 · Answer 1 · 2020-04-22T17:50:35+02:00

Answer:

A) (x²/127806.25) + (y²/76956) = 1

B) 451 miles

C) 715 miles

Step-by-step explanation:

Center is at (0,0) and focus is at (c,0) while vertex is at (a,0)

Thus, a - c = 132 miles

and a + c=583 miles

Adding both equations together, we have;

2a= 715 miles

Thus, a = 715/2

a = 357.5 miles

Since a+c=583

Thus, c = 583-357.5 = 225.5 miles

Now, for an ellipse it is defined by; a² = b² + c²

a² = 357.5² = 127806.25

c² = 225.5² = 50850.25

So, b² = 127806.25 - 50850.25

b² = 76956

b = √76956

b = 277.409

A) Equation of tangent to ellipse which is equation of orbit would be;

(x²/a²) + (y²/b²) = 1

Thus,

(x²/127806.25) + (y²/76956) = 1

B) distance between the earth and the other focus is = 2c = 2 x 225.5 = 451 miles

C) Length of other major axis = 2a = 2 x 357.5 = 715 miles