The figure represents the space shuttle S, which is 

(a) In a circular orbit about the earth 

(b) In an elliptical orbit where P is its perigee position. 

The exploded views on the right represent the cabin space with its x-axis oriented in the direction of the orbit. The astronauts conduct an experiment by applying a known force F in the x-direction to a small mass m. Explain why F = mx¨ does or does not hold in each case, where x is measured within the spacecraft. Assume that the shuttle is between perigee and apogee in the elliptical orbit so that the orbital speed is changing with time. Note that the t- and x-axes are tangent to the path, and the θ-axis is normal to the radial r-direction.

Transcribed Image Text:

0, t Circular ,0 Orbit r m F (a) t Elliptical Orbit All S m. y - F (b)