Energy Of Satellite
Mediumphysics
A satellite of mass m orbits Earth at radius r. What is its total mechanical energy?
Select the correct option:
Solution
Incorrect! Answer:
-GMm/(2r)
- Potential Energy: Always negative for bound systems. U=−rGMm.
- Kinetic Energy: K=21mvo2=2rGMm (from centripetal balance mvo2/r=GMm/r2).
- Summation:
- Etotal=K+U
- E=2rGMm−rGMm.
- Result: E=−2rGMm.
- Key Insight: Total energy is half the potential energy and equal in magnitude to the kinetic energy but negative.
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About This Question
- Subject
- physics
- Chapter
- gravitation
- Topic
- energy of satellite
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
-GMm/(2r)
- Potential Energy: Always negative for bound systems. U=−rGMm.
- Kinetic Energy: K=21mvo2=2rGMm (from centripetal balance mvo2/r=GMm/r2).
- Summation:
- Etotal=K+U
- E=2rGMm−rGMm.
- Result: E=−2rGMm.
- Key Insight: Total energy is half the potential energy and equal in magnitude to the kinetic energy but negative.
This medium difficulty physics question is from the chapter gravitation, covering the topic of energy of satellite. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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