A satellite revolves round the Earth in a circular orbit of radius

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

Problem

1000\,\text{kg}

satellite revolves round the Earth in a circular orbit of radius

3R_{\oplus}

, where

R_{\oplus}=6.4\times10^{6}\,\text{m}

. Take

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

and

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

. The binding energy (magnitude of total mechanical energy) of the satellite is closest to (a)

5.2\times10^{9}\,\text{J}

(b)

2.0\times10^{10}\,\text{J}

(c)

1.0\times10^{10}\,\text{J}

(d)

7.8\times10^{9}\,\text{J}