The angular momentum of a satellite in circular motion is given by which expression?

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Multiple Choice

The angular momentum of a satellite in circular motion is given by which expression?

Explanation:
Angular momentum is defined as L = r × p, with p = m v. For a satellite in a circular orbit the radius vector and the velocity are perpendicular, so the magnitude becomes L = r p sin(90°) = m r v. This directly gives the expression L = m v r. If you want to connect to gravity, centripetal balance gives v^2 = GM/r, so L = m r v = m r sqrt(GM/r) = m sqrt(GM r). The other options are linear momentum (p = mv), orbital speed (v = sqrt(GM/r)), and Newton’s second law (F = ma), none of which directly express angular momentum.

Angular momentum is defined as L = r × p, with p = m v. For a satellite in a circular orbit the radius vector and the velocity are perpendicular, so the magnitude becomes L = r p sin(90°) = m r v. This directly gives the expression L = m v r. If you want to connect to gravity, centripetal balance gives v^2 = GM/r, so L = m r v = m r sqrt(GM/r) = m sqrt(GM r). The other options are linear momentum (p = mv), orbital speed (v = sqrt(GM/r)), and Newton’s second law (F = ma), none of which directly express angular momentum.

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