Synchronous communications satellites are placed in a circular orbit that is 3.59 107 m above the surface of the earth. What is the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity at this distance?

Question

Can someone explain this exercise to me? Thank you

Answer 1

The gravitational force between two objects is given by Newton's law of gravitation

F = GMm/r²

where G is the Gravitational constant, M is the mass of the larger object, m the mass of the smaller object and r the distance between the two. Since you need the accleration due to gravity, just set this equal to ma

F = ma = GMm/r²

a = GM/r² using the values given