In an elliptic orbit around any planet, the location at which a spacecraft has the maximum angular velocity is
GATE AE - 2018,
Answer: B
The angular velocity is greatest at periapsis.
Angular momentum per unit mass is conserved in orbit: \(h = r^{2}\dot{\theta}\) is constant (Kepler's second law, equal areas in equal times). So the angular velocity is \(\dot{\theta} = h/r^{2}\), largest where r is smallest, at periapsis, the point of closest approach.
Apoapsis, the farthest point, is where the angular velocity is smallest. A point 45° from periapsis or 90° from apoapsis lies farther out than periapsis, so the angular velocity there is lower.
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