(a) How far does the space shuttle in Figure 13.20, \(300 \mathrm{~km}\) above Earth, fall in \(1.0 \mathrm{~s}\) ?

(b) If the radius of Earth is \(6400 \mathrm{~km}\), what is the shuttle's speed?

Figure 13.20 As a spacecraft orbits Earth a distance h above the ground, it falls a distance Ah. Because the craft moves so fast in a direction tangential to the (curved) ground, the ground "falls away" at the same rate, and the distance between the craft and the ground remains constant. Straight trajectory from initial position Ah = distance spacecraft falls initial position h orbit final position Height h of orbit remains constant because of distance Ah spacecraft falls.