Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Mars has a mass of and a radius of . Its moon Phobos orbits from its centre. Find Phobos's period, and the period of a craft skimming Mars's surface. (.)
In a circular orbit of radius : , , independent of the satellite's mass. Its energies: , , .
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Phobos. .
Step 2. Skimming. .
Answer: hours and about minutes.
Check. Phobos goes round faster than Mars turns ( h), so from Mars it rises in the west.
Watch out. Use the planet's own , not the Earth's.
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