A satellite is moved from a circular orbit just above Earth’s surface (orbital radius…

PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences

Problem

1200\,\text{kg}

satellite is moved from a circular orbit just above Earth’s surface (orbital radius

R_{E}

) to a new circular orbit of radius

2R_{E}

. Using

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

M_{E}=5.97\times10^{24}\,\text{kg}

, and

R_{E}=6.37\times10^{6}\,\text{m}

, determine the change in the satellite’s gravitational potential energy

\Delta U

for this relocation. (a)

+7.5\times10^{10}\,\text{J}

(b)

-3.8\times10^{10}\,\text{J}

(c)

+3.8\times10^{10}\,\text{J}

(d)

+9.6\times10^{9}\,\text{J}