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Mass independence of orbital period

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

The principle that the orbital period of an object in a given orbit depends only on the orbital radius and the mass of the central body, not on the mass of the orbiting object.

AP course connection

Topic 6.6: 6.6 Motion of Orbiting Satellites

Unit 6

Keep studying

Review this concept in 6.6 Motion of Orbiting SatellitesAP Physics 1 course hub

Mass independence of orbital period cheat sheet for homework

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