Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I cut and pasted this from the make it my own section of the project page. I want to do this as my experiment but I can't figure out how to keep the curvature constant. Do I just keep adjusting the height of the tube until I find the right speed so the tracks line up after I've changed the amount of gravitational pull?

This science project studies how the altitude of a satellite's orbit changes with changing velocity. Could this model be used to prove that a satellite orbiting Saturn at a given altitude can be placed in orbit around Jupiter at the same altitude? In this case, you keep the curvature or the track (deviation from a straight line) constant and try to find a speed so the deviation from the straight line when high gravitational pull is present (like Jupiter) equals the deviation from the straight line for a different speed and lower gravitational pull (like the one created by Saturn). How do those speeds compare

Hi Chloelemons31,
I am afraid the sentence from the "Make it my own" page may be a little misleading. I am in agreement with your thought that you are trying to get the same "curvature" by finding the "right" speed under the Saturn and Jupiter's gravity.

Good Luck and please let us know how this went.
Willey