A space shuttle in orbit around the Earth carries its payload with its mechanical arm. Suddenly, the arm malfunctions and releases the payload. What will happen to the payload?

a. It will fall straight down and hit the Earth.

b. It will follow a curved path and eventually hit the Earth.

c. It will drift out into deep space.

d. It will remain in the same orbit with the shuttle.

Question

Physics

Araceli Arnold

12 October, 14:30

A space shuttle in orbit around the Earth carries its payload with its mechanical arm. Suddenly, the arm malfunctions and releases the payload. What will happen to the payload?

a. It will fall straight down and hit the Earth.

b. It will follow a curved path and eventually hit the Earth.

c. It will drift out into deep space.

d. It will remain in the same orbit with the shuttle.

+5

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Maximillian Ewing · Answer 1

We must remember that a body in Earth orbit is under perpetual free fall, that is, that the body moves under a constant speed in constant around the earth.

The moment one of the charges is released, its displacement speed will be equal to that of the ship, so it will tend to continue rotating in the orbit in which the ship was traveling.

The correct answer is D. The payload will remain in the same orbit with the space shuttle.