SOLUTION: A space shuttle 240 miles above the earth orbits the earth every 5 hours. How far (to the nearest 10 miles) does the shuttle travel in 1 hour? ( The diameter of the earth is approx

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Question 153859: A space shuttle 240 miles above the earth orbits the earth every 5 hours. How far (to the nearest 10 miles) does the shuttle travel in 1 hour? ( The diameter of the earth is approximately 8000 miles)[Theta=s/r]
Answer by vleith(2983) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The shuttle travels 1/5 of an orbit in 1 hour
Orbit+=+2%2Api%2Ar
The radius,r, is the distance from the center of the earth to the shuttle. You are told the diameter of the earth is 8000 miles and the shuttle is 240 miles above the earth's surface.
So the distance from the center of the earth to the earth's surface is 1/2 the earth's diameter
8000%2F2+=+4000 miles
The additional distance to the shuttle is 240.
Thus the radius from the center of the earth to the shuttle is 4000+%2B+240+=+4240 miles.
We want 1/5 of the orbit's circumference
DistanceInAnHour+=+%281%2F5%29%2A+2%2Api%2A4240
DistanceInAnHour+=+%281%2F5%29%2Api%2A8480
DistanceInAnHour+=+pi%2A1696
DistanceInAnHour+=+5324.44
to the nearest 10 miles, is 5320 miles
That's moving!