What is the kinetic energy of a 200-kg satellite as it follows a circular orbit of radius 8.0 × 10⁶ m around the Earth? (Mass of Earth = 6.0 × 10²⁴ kg.)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The kinetic energy (KE) of a satellite in orbit can be found using the formula $ KE = \frac{G M m}{2 r} $, where $G$ is the gravitational constant ($6.674 \times 10^{-11} \, \text{Nm}^2/\text{kg}^2$), $M$ is the mass of the Earth, $m$ is the mass of the satellite, and $r$ is the radius of the orbit. Plugging in the given values ($M = 6.0 \times 10^{24} \, \text{kg}$, $m = 200 \, \text{kg}$, $r = 8.0 \times 10^{6} \, \text{m}$), and solving gives a kinetic energy of $5.0 \times 10^{10} \, \text{J}$.

What Is the Kinetic Energy of a 200-Kg Satellite as It