If a satellite is launched into a higher orbit, how does its potential energy ch
Practice Questions
Q1
If a satellite is launched into a higher orbit, how does its potential energy change compared to its initial orbit?
It decreases
It remains the same
It increases
It becomes zero
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If a satellite is launched into a higher orbit, how does its potential energy change compared to its initial orbit?
Step 1: Understand that potential energy is the energy an object has due to its position.
Step 2: Recognize that for a satellite, potential energy depends on its distance from the center of the Earth.
Step 3: Know that when a satellite is in a higher orbit, it is farther away from the Earth's center compared to its initial orbit.
Step 4: Realize that as the distance from the Earth's center increases, the potential energy of the satellite also increases.
Step 5: Conclude that moving a satellite to a higher orbit results in an increase in its potential energy.
Gravitational Potential Energy – The potential energy of an object in a gravitational field, which increases with distance from the center of the mass exerting the gravitational force.
Orbital Mechanics – The study of the motion of objects in orbit, including how changes in altitude affect energy states.
