How to Calculate the Period of the Hubble Space Telescope's Orbit

What data do we need to calculate the period of the Hubble Space Telescope's orbit?

We need to know the altitude of the Hubble Space Telescope above Earth's surface and the orbital velocity of the telescope.

Answer:

To calculate the period of the Hubble Space Telescope's orbit, we need to know the altitude of the telescope above Earth's surface which is 617 km and the orbital velocity of the telescope which is approximately 11.2 km/s.

The period of the Hubble Space Telescope's orbit can be calculated using the formula T = 2πr/v, where T is the period, r is the radius of the orbit, and v is the orbital velocity. In this case, the altitude of the telescope above Earth's surface is given as 617 km. To find the radius of the orbit (r), we need to add this altitude to Earth's radius. Once we have the radius, we can use the orbital velocity of 11.2 km/s to calculate the period of the Hubble Space Telescope's orbit.

To perform the calculation, substitute the values into the formula: T = 2π(617 km + Earth's radius) / 11.2 km/s. By solving this equation, we can determine the period of the Hubble Space Telescope's orbit.

Understanding how to calculate the period of an orbit is essential for determining the time it takes for objects to complete one full revolution around a larger body. By applying the formula and the given data, we can accurately determine the period of the Hubble Space Telescope's orbit above Earth.