A satellite is transferred from a circular orbit above Earth’s surface to a new…

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

Problem

500\,\text{kg}

satellite is transferred from a circular orbit

1000\,\text{km}

above Earth’s surface to a new circular orbit

500\,\text{km}

above the surface. Using

R_E = 6.4 \times 10^3\,\text{km}

and

GM_E = 3.99 \times 10^{14}\,\text{m}^3\text{s}^{-2}

, estimate the change in its total mechanical energy (final minus initial). (a) Decreases by about

5.0 \times 10^{2}\,\text{MJ}

(b) Decreases by about

1.0 \times 10^{3}\,\text{MJ}

1.0 \times 10^{3}\,\text{MJ}

(d) Decreases by about

2.0 \times 10^{3}\,\text{MJ}