The mass of the Earth is 5.97×1024kg and its mean radius is 6.37×106m.
(a) Calculate the gravitational potential at the Earth’s surface.
(b) Determine the gravitational potential at an altitude of 5.00×105m above the surface, assuming the Earth behaves as a point mass for r>R.
(c) Find the potential difference between these two points.
(d) Hence compute the work that must be done by an external agent to lift a satellite of mass 1200kg from the surface to this altitude.