- The space station completes one orbit every 90 minutes.
- The spacecraft needs 2 hours (i.e., 120 minutes) to align and dock.
Question:
Where will the station be when the spacecraft finally docks?
Options:
a) Above Africa
b) Above India
c) Above Europe
d) Above the Pacific Ocean again
Answer:
b) Above India
Explanation:
- The station completes one full orbit in 90 minutes.
- In 120 minutes, the station completes:
12090=1.33\frac{120}{90} = 1.33 or 1 and 1/3 orbits. - 1 full orbit brings the station back nearly to the starting point (above the Pacific Ocean).
- The extra 1/3 orbit means the station moves one-third of the way around the Earth from the Pacific Ocean.
- Since the Earth’s circumference is roughly divided into 360 degrees, 1/3 orbit is about 120 degrees eastward.
- Moving 120 degrees east from the Pacific, the station would be approximately above India.
Thus, when docking occurs, the station will be nearly above India.
