Launch a satellite too slowly, at circular-orbit speed, into an ellipse or at escape speed and watch the inverse-square gravitational field determine its path.
Learning guide and suggested activities
What this tool shows
Why a sideways launch can produce impact, a circle, an ellipse or escape
How velocity remains tangent while gravitational acceleration points inward
How launch speed compares with circular and escape speed
How negative or non-negative total energy distinguishes bound and unbound paths
Why satellite mass does not change the orbital trajectory
OCR A relevance
OCR A Module 5.2.2: Gravitational fields
Circular satellite orbits and Kepler’s third law
Gravitational potential and escape speed
AQA relevance
AQA 7408 sections 3.7.1 and 3.7.2
Gravitational field strength and potential graphs
Circular orbits, satellite energy and escape velocity
Synchronous, geostationary and low Earth orbits
Try these tasks
Compare a 400 km low Earth orbit with the geostationary preset.
Increase orbital radius and explain every change in g, V, v, T and total energy.
Change satellite mass and identify which quantities do not change.
Use the graph marker to connect the slope of V against r with field direction.