For a satellite in a circular orbit, which of the following is true about its ki

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Question: For a satellite in a circular orbit, which of the following is true about its kinetic and potential energy?

Options:

Correct Answer: K.E. < P.E.

Solution:

For a satellite in a circular orbit, the kinetic energy is less than the potential energy, as K.E. = -1/2 P.E.

For a satellite in a circular orbit, which of the following is true about its kinetic and potential energy?

For a satellite in a circular orbit, which of the following is true about its kinetic and potential energy?

Step 1: Understand that a satellite in a circular orbit is moving around a planet or moon.
Step 2: Know that kinetic energy (K.E.) is the energy of motion, while potential energy (P.E.) is the energy stored due to position.
Step 3: In a circular orbit, the satellite has both kinetic energy (due to its speed) and potential energy (due to its height above the planet).
Step 4: The formula for kinetic energy is K.E. = 1/2 mv^2, where m is mass and v is velocity.
Step 5: The formula for gravitational potential energy is P.E. = -G(m1*m2)/r, where G is the gravitational constant, m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects, and r is the distance between their centers.
Step 6: For a satellite in orbit, the kinetic energy is related to the potential energy by the equation K.E. = -1/2 P.E.
Step 7: This means that the kinetic energy is less than the potential energy because it is negative half of the potential energy.

Kinetic and Potential Energy in Orbits – In a circular orbit, the kinetic energy of a satellite is related to its gravitational potential energy, specifically that the kinetic energy is half the magnitude of the potential energy but negative.