Energy involving satellite of the Earth

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, binding energy, and total mechanical energy of a satellite orbiting Earth. The gravitational potential energy was initially calculated incorrectly due to confusion about the radius used, which should be the orbital radius of 7.00 x 10^6 m from Earth's center. The kinetic energy was also recalculated using the correct orbital velocity rather than escape velocity. The binding energy was derived as half of the gravitational potential energy, leading to further clarification on the relationship between these energies. The participants emphasized the importance of understanding energy calculations relative to the satellite's position in orbit compared to its position on Earth's surface.
Glenboro
Messages
39
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A satellite of the Earth has a mass of 1550 kg. It orbits Earth with a mean radius of orbit of 7.00 x 10^6 m.

a) What is the gravitational potential energy of the satellite with respect to Earth?

b) What is the kinetic energy and the velocity of the satellite in Earth’s orbit?

c) What is the binding energy of the satellite to Earth?

d) What is the total mechanical energy of the satellite in its orbit?

Homework Equations


PEg = -Gm1m2/R
Vescape = root(2)(G)(m1)/Rm
E binding = 1/2<PEg> in orbit[/B]

The Attempt at a Solution



a)PEg = -(6.67 X 10^-11)(5.98 X 10^24)(1550)/(1.338 X 10^7)
= -4.62 X 10^10J

b) Vescape = root(2)(6.67 x 10^-11)(5.98 x 10^24)/(6.38 x 10^6)
= 1.12 x 10^4 m/s
KE = (1/2)(m)(V)^2
KE = (1/2)(1550)(1.12 x 10^4)^2
KE = 9.72 x 10^10J
c) E binding = 1/2<PEg> in orbit
(0.5)(4.62 X 10^10J) = 2.31 x 10^10J
d) I'm not certain which equation I should use for this one
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Glenboro said:

Homework Statement


A satellite of the Earth has a mass of 1550 kg. It orbits Earth with a mean radius of orbit of 7.00 x 10^6 m.

a) What is the gravitational potential energy of the satellite with respect to Earth?

b) What is the kinetic energy and the velocity of the satellite in Earth’s orbit?

c) What is the binding energy of the satellite to Earth?

d) What is the total mechanical energy of the satellite in its orbit?

Homework Equations


PEg = -Gm1m2/R
Vescape = root(2)(G)(m1)/Rm
E binding = 1/2<PEg> in orbit[/B]

The Attempt at a Solution



a)PEg = -(6.67 X 10^-11)(5.98 X 10^24)(1550)/(1.338 X 10^7)
= -4.62 X 10^10J

b) Vescape = root(2)(6.67 x 10^-11)(5.98 x 10^24)/(6.38 x 10^6)
= 1.12 x 10^4 m/s
KE = (1/2)(m)(V)^2
KE = (1/2)(1550)(1.12 x 10^4)^2
KE = 9.72 x 10^10J
c) E binding = 1/2<PEg> in orbit
(0.5)(4.62 X 10^10J) = 2.31 x 10^10J
d) I'm not certain which equation I should use for this one

The total mechanical energy consist of the kinetic energy + the potential energy.
You calculated the kinetic energy form the escape velocity. That is wrong. The satellite is on orbit, so its speed is less.
 
ehild said:
The total mechanical energy consist of the kinetic energy + the potential energy.
You calculated the kinetic energy form the escape velocity. That is wrong. The satellite is on orbit, so its speed is less.
So for question d) I will just use equation Me = Ke + Pe
and for b) Ke = 1/2<PEg> which is 2.31 x 10^10J or I might be completely off
 
Glenboro said:
So for question d) I will just use equation Me = Ke + Pe
Glenboro said:
and for b) Ke = 1/2<PEg> which is 2.31 x 10^10J or I might be completely off

KE is not half of the PE. They do not have the same sign.
I do not understand what radius did you use when calculating the PE.
 
  • Like
Likes Glenboro
ehild said:
KE is not half of the PE. They do not have the same sign.
I do not understand what radius did you use when calculating the PE.
The radius I used to calculated was (6.38 x 10^6m) The Earth's radius plus 7.00 x 10^6 m from the question. (7.00 x 10^6m)+(6.38 x 10^6) = 1.338 x 10^7 m
Is this what you are referring to? Sorry for making mistake, I actually trying my best
 
Glenboro said:
The radius I used to calculated was (6.38 x 10^6m) The Earth's radius plus 7.00 x 10^6 m from the question. (7.00 x 10^6m)+(6.38 x 10^6) = 1.338 x 10^7 m
Is this what you are referring to? Sorry for making mistake, I actually trying my best
The 7 106 is not the height above the Earth's surface, it's the radius of orbit, so is measured from the Earth's centre.
 
haruspex said:
The 7 106 is not the height above the Earth's surface, it's the radius of orbit, so is measured from the Earth's centre.
Oh so to figure out how far it's distance from Earth I had to subtract (6.38 x 10^6m) from 7.00 x 10^6
 
Glenboro said:
Oh so to figure out how far it's distance from Earth I had to subtract (6.38 x 10^6m) from 7.00 x 10^6
The distance from the Earth surface is irrelevant. The satellite orbits Earth with a mean radius of orbit of 7.00 x 10^6 m. The force between the Earth and satellite and the potential energy depend on the distance from the Earth centre.
 
ehild said:
The distance from the Earth surface is irrelevant. The satellite orbits Earth with a mean radius of orbit of 7.00 x 10^6 m. The force between the Earth and satellite and the potential energy depend on the distance from the Earth centre.
So I fully realized my error, I should known it was the radius of orbit. I did re-calculation for all questions.
a)PEg = -(6.67x10^-11)(5.98x10^24)(1550)/(7.00 x 10^6)
= -8.83 x10^10J
b) I didn't had to use Vescape formula since it was in orbit
V= root (G)(Me)/R
v= root (6.67x10^-11)(5.98 x10^24)/(7.00 x 10^6)
V = 7.55 x 10^3 m/s
Ke = (0.5)(1550)(7.55 x 10^3)^2
Ke = 4.42 x 10^10J

If this isn't right, I'm dumb :(
 
  • #10
Glenboro said:
a)PEg = -(6.67x10^-11)(5.98x10^24)(1550)/(7.00 x 10^6)
Read the question carefully:
Glenboro said:
the gravitational potential energy of the satellite with respect to Earth
 
  • #11
haruspex said:
Read the question carefully:
My small mistake, Thanks haruspex
 
  • #12
haruspex said:
Read the question carefully:
Can you give me a little hint :( My answers keep getting off
 
  • #13
Glenboro said:
Can you give me a little hint :( My answers keep getting off
Did you recalculate the gravitational potential energy?

That velocity you have for part (b) looks more like orbital velocity than escape velocity.
 
  • #14
SammyS said:
Did you recalculate the gravitational potential energy?

That velocity you have for part (b) looks more like orbital velocity than escape velocity.
Since it is in orbit, yes I calculated part (b) as orbital velocity.
 
  • #15
Glenboro said:
Since it is in orbit, yes I calculated part (b) as orbital velocity.
Oh ! yes, of course, that's right.

Have you corrected you answer to part (a) so the answer is relative to Earth?

What was the satellite's gravitational potential energy when it sat on Earth's surface?
 
  • #16
SammyS said:
Oh ! yes, of course, that's right.

Have you corrected you answer to part (a) so the answer is relative to Earth?

What was the satellite's gravitational potential energy when it sat on Earth's surface?
Gravitational potential energy?
PEg = mgh
PEg = (1550kg)(7.00 x 10^6m)(g)
 
  • #17
Glenboro said:
Gravitational potential energy?
PEg = mgh
PEg = (1550kg)(7.00 x 10^6m)(g)
That's good for objects very near Earth's surface, and is relative to being exactly at Earth's surface, where h = 0.

At Earth's surface, how far is an object from the center of the earth?
 
  • #18
SammyS said:
That's good for objects very near Earth's surface, and is relative to being exactly at Earth's surface, where h = 0.

At Earth's surface, how far is an object from the center of the earth?
Yeah because gravity would not affect much when it's it orbit. Due to distance
At Earth's surface, how far is an object from the centre of the earth?
(7.00 x 10^6m) - (Earth's radius)
 
  • #19
Glenboro said:
Yeah because gravity would not affect much when it's it orbit. Due to distance
At Earth's surface, how far is an object from the centre of the earth?
(7.00 x 10^6m) - (Earth's radius)
Let's review part (a) of your question.

Glenboro said:
a) What is the gravitational potential energy of the satellite with respect to Earth?
You have found the gravitational potential energy of the satellite in its orbital position, but that is not with respect to earth. (What is that with respect to?)

What was the satellite's gravitational potential energy when it sat on Earth's surface? That's not in orbit.
 
  • #20
SammyS said:
Let's review part (a) of your question.You have found the gravitational potential energy of the satellite in its orbital position, but that is not with respect to earth. (What is that with respect to?)

What was the satellite's gravitational potential energy when it sat on Earth's surface? That's not in orbit.
Would you mind if you can briefly explain how "relative" thing works? I need to put those into my head first :smile:
 
  • #21
Glenboro said:
Would you mind if you can briefly explain how "relative" thing works? I need to put those into my head first :smile:
Another way to state the question is as follows:

What is the gravitational potential energy of the satellite in orbit compared to its gravitational potential energy when it was on Earth?​

By how much does it change and does it gain or does it lose potential energy?
 
  • #22
SammyS said:
Another way to state the question is as follows:

What is the gravitational potential energy of the satellite in orbit compared to its gravitational potential energy when it was on Earth?​

By how much does it change and does it gain or does it lose potential energy?
That is much better, thanks man
 

Similar threads

Potential Energy and raising a satellite from Earth into a Circular Orbit
Replies
5
Views
2K
When do I include the Earth's radius in questions involving satellites?
Replies
5
Views
2K
Centripetal Acceleration of Satellite
Replies
7
Views
2K
Energy of Satellites(Homework question)
Replies
1
Views
1K
Change in momentum for a satellite in circular orbit
Replies
6
Views
3K
Finding r of a Jovian-synchronous orbit and escape velocity
Replies
7
Views
2K
Earth's rotation slows down slightly over time -- How much energy is lost?
Replies
15
Views
2K
Gravitational Potential Energy Project Thor
Replies
8
Views
2K
Gravitation and Gravitational Fields
Replies
4
Views
1K
How Is Energy Transformed in a Satellite's Decaying Orbit Due to Air Friction?
Replies
3
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top