How to find the kinetic energy of a satellite?
Answers
Answer:
hmmm
Explanation:
Kinetic energy in an orbit
Kinetic energy in orbit = ½ mv2 = + ½GMm/r.
Total energy of satellite in orbit = -GMm/2r.
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Answer:
Explanation:
The satellites orbit around a central massive body in either a circular or elliptical manner. A satellite orbiting about the earth moves in a circular motion at a constant speed and at fixed height by moving with a tangential velocity that allows it to fall at the same rate at which the earth curves. The force of gravity acts in a direction perpendicular to the direction of motion of the satellite throughout the trajectory.
As per the work-energy theorem, the initial total mechanical energy of the system plus the work done by any external force is equal to the final total mechanical energy.
Mathematically, KEi + PEi + Wext = KEf + PEf
For satellites, the force of gravity is the only external force and since gravity is considered as a conservative force, the term Wext is zero.
The equation can be simplified as KEi + PEi = KEf + PEf
In other words, the sum of the kinetic energy and the potential energy of the system is constant, while energy gets transformed between the kinetic energy and the potential energy.
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