NASA has asked your team of rocket scientist about the feasibiltiy of a new satellite launcher...

NASA has asked your team of rocket scientist about the feasibiltiy of a new satellite launcher that will save rocket fuel. NASA's idea is basically an electric slingshot that consists of 4 electrodes arranged in a horizontal square with sides of length 5.0 m at a height 15.0 m above the ground. The satellite is then placed on the ground aligned with the center of the square. A power supply will provide each of the four electrodes with a charge +Q/4 and the satellite with a charge -Q. When the satellite is released from rest, it moves up and passes through the center of the square. At the instant it reaches the square's center, the power supply is turned off and the electrodes are grounded, giving them a zero electric charge. To test this idea, you decide to use energy considerations to calculate how big Q will have to be to get a 165 kg satellite to an orbit 250 km above the Earth's surface.

Expert Solution

Note: x = 0m point is taken at the center of electrodes square and x = 15m is taken at the rest position of satellite I.e. at the ground.

genius_generous answered 1 year ago

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