Answer the following for a satellite orbiting Earth.

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences

Problem

Answer the following for a satellite orbiting Earth. (i) Derive an expression for the change in mechanical energy per unit mass when the satellite is transferred between two circular orbits of radii

r_1

and

r_2

. (Take

r_2>r_1

.) (ii) Using your result, find the numerical value of this change when

r_1=4.22\times10^{7}\,\text{m}

(geostationary orbit) and

r_2=8.44\times10^{7}\,\text{m}

. Take

G=6.67\times10^{-11}\,\text{N m}^2\!\text{/kg}^2

and

M_{\text{E}}=6.0\times10^{24}\,\text{kg}

Related theory

Gravitational Potential Energy
Gravitation
Satellites & Orbital Motion
Orbital velocity and period
Energy of an orbiting satellite

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