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Orbital Mechanics

Total questions: 18

Worksheet time: 39mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why do astronauts need to perform a gravity turn?

a)

So they can overcome the force of gravity

b)

So they can avoid the Earth's electromagnetic field

c)

So they can fly parallel to the ground

d)

So they can make the launch last longer

2.
Once the astronauts have achieved orbit...
a)
They continue to fall toward the Earth but miss the ground due to their horizontal speed
b)
They continue to fall toward the Earth, but stay in space by constantly firing their rockets
c)
They have successfully overcome gravity and no longer fall toward the Earth
3.
Which of the following is not a type of orbit?
a)
Low-Earth
b)
Geosynchronous
c)
Geodesic
d)
Geostationary
4.

When you are in a circular orbit...

a)

You are always at the same altitude above the planet

b)

You speed up or slow down depending on your altitude

c)

You are moving so fast you eventually fly off into space

d)

You are moving too slowly and eventually crash into the object you are orbiting around

5.

When you are in a parabolic orbit...

a)

You are always at the same altitude above the planet

b)

You speed up or slow down depending on your altitude

c)

You are moving so fast you eventually fly off into space

d)

You are moving too slowly and eventually crash into the object you are orbiting around

6.

When you are in an elliptical orbit...

a)

You are always at the same altitude above the planet

b)

You speed up or slow down depending on your altitude

c)

You are moving so fast you eventually fly off into space

d)

You are moving too slowly and eventually crash into the object you are orbiting around

7.

Which of the following is not true if you are in a geostationary orbit...

a)

You are always at the same altitude above Earth

b)

You orbit at exactly the same rate as the Earth

c)

You are always above the same point on Earth's surface

d)

You orbit very low over the Earth's surface

8.

In an elliptical orbit, the point farthest away from the object you are orbiting is called the...

a)

Apoapsis

b)

Pariapsis

c)

Directrix

d)

Hyperbola

9.

While in orbit around a planet, your speed largely depends on...

a)

The time of year

b)

The force of gravity

c)

The direction you are facing

d)

The inclination of your orbit

10.

In an elliptical orbit, you will be travelling the fastest at the...

a)

Midpoint

b)

Vertex

c)

Apoapsis

d)

Periapsis

11.

While in an orbit, the direction in which you are orbiting is called...

a)

Prograde

b)

Retrograde

12.

While in an orbit, the opposite direction to which you are orbiting is called...

a)

Prograde

b)

Retrograde

13.

To increase the size of your orbit, you should burn in which direction?

a)

Prograde

b)

Retrograde

14.

To decrease the size of your orbit, you should burn in which direction?

a)

Prograde

b)

Retrograde

15.

If you burn directly away from the object you are orbiting, what will happen to your orbit?

a)

Your orbit will increase

b)

Your orbit will decrease

c)

Your orbit will change its radial

d)

Your orbit will change its inclination

16.

Firing your rockets to move from one orbit to another is called...

a)

Orbital growth

b)

Orbital decay

c)

Orbital transfer

d)

Orbital transformation

17.

When an object loses speed from its orbit it experiences...

a)

Orbital growth

b)

Orbital decay

c)

Orbital transfer

d)

Orbital transformation

18.

Bonus Question!

On average, what planet is closest to the Earth?

a)

Mercury

b)

Venus

c)

Mars

d)

Jupiter

e)

Saturn