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Motion of Orbiting Satellites

AP Physics 1· difficulty 4/5

For a satellite of mass mm in a circular orbit of radius rr around a planet of mass MM, what is the total mechanical energy?

  • A

    −GMm2r-\dfrac{GMm}{2r}

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  • B

    +GMm2r+\dfrac{GMm}{2r}

  • C

    −GMmr-\dfrac{GMm}{r}

  • D

    −2GMmr-\dfrac{2GMm}{r}

Explanation

K=GMm/(2r)K = GMm/(2r) and U=−GMm/rU = -GMm/r, so E=K+U=−GMm/(2r)E = K + U = -GMm/(2r).

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