A satellite is in a circular orbit around the Earth. What happens to its gravitational potential energy as it moves to a higher orbit?

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It increases.
It decreases.
It remains constant.
It becomes zero.

Questions & Step-by-step Solutions

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Q: A satellite is in a circular orbit around the Earth. What happens to its gravitational potential energy as it moves to a higher orbit?

Solution: As the satellite moves to a higher orbit, its distance from the Earth increases, leading to an increase in gravitational potential energy.

Steps: 5

Step 1: Understand that a satellite orbits the Earth due to gravity.
Step 2: Recognize that gravitational potential energy depends on the distance from the Earth.
Step 3: Note that as the satellite moves to a higher orbit, it gets farther away from the Earth.
Step 4: Realize that increasing distance from the Earth means the gravitational potential energy increases.
Step 5: Conclude that the satellite's gravitational potential energy increases as it moves to a higher orbit.

A satellite is in a circular orbit around the Earth. What happens to its gravitational potential energy as it moves to a higher orbit?

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