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The formula to find the period of orbit of a satellite around a planet is T^2=(4pi^2/GM)r^3 where r is the orbit's mean radius, M is the mass of the planet, and G is the universal gravitational constant. if you are given all the values except r, how do you rewrite the formula to solve for r?

Verified Answer :

The answer is \(r= \sqrt[3]{GMT^{2}/4 \pi^{2}}\)

\(T^{2} = \frac{4 \pi^{2}}{GM} r^{3}\)

Move \(\frac{4 \pi^{2} }{GM}\) to the other side of the equation:
\(T^{2} /\frac{4 \pi^{2} }{GM} = r^{3} \\ T^{2} *\frac{GM}{4 \pi^{2} } = r^{3}\)

Rearrange:
\(r^{3} = T^{2} *\frac{GM}{4 \pi^{2} } \\ r^{3}= \frac{T^{2} *GM}{4 \pi^{2} } \\ r^{3}= \frac{GMT^{2}}{4 \pi^{2} } \\ r^{3} = GMT^{2}/4 \pi^{2}\)

Since \(x^{3}= \sqrt[3]{x}\), then
\(r^{3} = GMT^{2}/4 \pi^{2} \\ r= \sqrt[3]{GMT^{2}/4 \pi^{2}}\)