Details

The differential equations determining the projectile's motion are .

In this Demonstration, air resistance and the effect of the Earth's rotation are not taken into account. The Earth is assumed to be a perfect sphere with diameter set to 1 and all lengths are scaled accordingly. The projectile is fired from a point directly above the equator where the escape speed is . The circular equatorial orbit is calculated using Kepler's formula, .

Snapshot 1: projectile returns to Earth

Snapshot 2: circular equatorial orbit

Snapshot 3: fired at a speed above escape velocity

Inspired by Enrique Zeleny's Demonstration "Projectile Launched around the Earth".

Graphic of the earth taken fromEd Pegg Jr's Demonstration "Geosynchronous Orbit"