Desiree Rodriguez and Daina Godshall Elliptical Orbits Desiree Rodriguez and Daina Godshall
Ellipse Ellipse – an oval shaped curve that is the path of a point that moves such that the sum of its distances from 2 fixed points (foci) are constant When foci are together, the ellipse is a circle. A circle is a special case of an ellipse
Orbit Satellite speed varies in an elliptical orbit When the initial speed is more than 8 km/s, the satellite moves away from the earth and loses speed
Orbit The satellite slows down and begins falling back towards earth The speed that is lost is gained when it falls back It then rejoins the path and repeats the same cycle
Describe an ellipse An ellipse is a curve that is a closed path. It has two constant fixed points.