The tangential velocity at apogee is ______________ the spacecraft velocity at apogee.

A)
equal to
B)
less than
C)
more than
D)
equal to or less than

Correct Answer :   equal to


Explanation : Tangential velocity is exactly equal to the spacecraft’s velocity at apogee. True anomaly at the apogee is 180° and as the radial velocity is dependent on the true anomaly as a multiple of sin θ, it should be zero. Therefore, at this instant the tangential velocity and spacecraft’s velocity are the same.