A satellite is in a circular orbit around the Earth. What is the gravitational p
Practice Questions
Q1
A satellite is in a circular orbit around the Earth. What is the gravitational potential energy of the satellite?
It is positive.
It is negative.
It is zero.
It is constant.
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
A satellite is in a circular orbit around the Earth. What is the gravitational potential energy of the satellite?
Step 1: Understand that gravitational potential energy (GPE) is the energy an object has due to its position in a gravitational field.
Step 2: Recognize that for a satellite in orbit, the gravitational force from the Earth is what keeps it in that orbit.
Step 3: Know that the formula for gravitational potential energy (U) is U = - (G * m1 * m2) / r, where G is the gravitational constant, m1 is the mass of the Earth, m2 is the mass of the satellite, and r is the distance from the center of the Earth to the satellite.
Step 4: Realize that the negative sign in the formula indicates that the gravitational potential energy is negative, meaning the satellite is bound to the Earth by gravity.
Step 5: Conclude that the gravitational potential energy of the satellite is negative because it is in a stable orbit around the Earth.
Gravitational Potential Energy – The gravitational potential energy of an object in a gravitational field is defined as the work done to move the object from a reference point to its current position, and it is negative for objects in orbit due to the attractive force of gravity.
Circular Orbits – In a circular orbit, the gravitational force provides the necessary centripetal force to keep the satellite in motion, and the potential energy is calculated based on the distance from the center of the Earth.
