A 51-kg satellite is put into orbit and has 152 MJ of kinetic energy.How high above the Earth's surface is the orbit?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is A because the kinetic energy of the satellite is equal to its gravitational potential energy, which is given by:$$KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2 = mgh$$where:* KE is the kinetic energy (152 MJ)* m is the mass of the satellite (51 kg)* v is the velocity of the satellite* g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2)* h is the height above the Earth's surfaceSolving for h, we get:$$h = \frac{KE}{mg} = \frac{152 	imes 10^6 	ext{ J}}{51 	ext{ kg} 	imes 9.8 	ext{ m/s}^2} = 60,400 	ext{ km}$$

A 51-Kg Satellite Is Put into Orbit and Has 152