An artificial satellite of mass revolves in a circular path at an altitude of above…

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

Problem

An artificial satellite of mass

400\,\text{kg}

revolves in a circular path at an altitude of

600\,\text{km}

above Earth’s surface. Take

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

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

and

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

. (i) Calculate the radius of the satellite’s orbit measured from Earth’s centre. (ii) Determine the gravitational potential energy of the Earth–satellite system at this altitude. (iii) Find the kinetic energy of the satellite in its orbit. (iv) Hence obtain its total mechanical energy and the binding energy required to remove it to an infinite distance from Earth.

Related theory

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

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