What do we mean by the orbital energy of an orbiting object (such as a planet, moon, or satellite)?
A)Orbital energy is the sum of the object's kinetic energy and its gravitational potential energy as it moves through its orbit.
B)Orbital energy is the object's kinetic energy as it moves through its orbit.
C)Orbital energy is the amount of energy required for the object to leave orbit and escape into space.
D)Orbital energy is a measure of the object's speed as it moves through its orbit.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Orbital energy is the sum of the object's kinetic energy and its gravitational potential energy as it moves through its orbit. Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion, while gravitational potential energy is the energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field. As an orbiting object moves through its orbit, it experiences changes in both its kinetic and potential energy, which combine to give the object its total orbital energy.

What Do We Mean by the Orbital Energy of an Orbiting