1. Desiree Rodriguez and Daina Godshall
Elliptical Orbits
Desiree Rodriguez and Daina Godshall

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Describe an ellipse
An ellipse is a curve that is a closed path. It has two constant fixed points.