satellite orbits and coordinates
With this simulation you can explore the flight paths of satellites. You can set the flight altitude h in meters and the orbital inclination in °.
The flight altitude determines the orbital speed v of the satellite and its orbital period T according to the following formula:
and
Here, m is the mass of the satellite, r is the radius of the Earth, M is the mass of the Earth and G is the gravitational constant.
The orbital inclination influences which parts of the Earth the satellite flies over.
Can you find a setting in which the satellite has flown over the entire planet after a certain time?
Can you find a setting in which the satellite basically stays over one point or over one zone of the Earth?