A probe of mass is placed in a circular orbit of radius around Mars.

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

Problem

A probe of mass

1000\,\text{kg}

is placed in a circular orbit of radius

4.0\times10^{7}\,\text{m}

around Mars. (a) (i) Calculate the orbital speed of the probe. (b) (ii) Determine its gravitational potential energy with respect to infinity in this orbit. (c) (iii) Hence compute the total mechanical energy of the probe in the orbit. (d) Take

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

and the mass of Mars

M_{M} = 6.4\times10^{23}\,\text{kg}

. Assume Mars to be isolated and spherical.

Related theory

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

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