Gravitation Energy: Calculating Required Energy for Orbit w/ m, T, M, R

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the energy required to place a mass m into orbit around the Earth, expressed in terms of the orbital period T, the mass of the Earth M, and the radius of the Earth R. Participants are analyzing the energy equations related to gravitational potential and kinetic energy in orbital mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants express the radius of the orbit and velocity in terms of T, m, M, and R. There are attempts to derive the energy expression using gravitational equations, and some participants question the equivalence of terms in their solutions compared to the book's answer.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different expressions for energy and questioning the validity of their results against the book's solution. Some guidance on combining terms has been suggested, but there is no consensus on the correctness of the derived expressions.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of confusion regarding the manipulation of terms and the interpretation of the energy equations. Participants are also addressing potential discrepancies between their calculations and the provided textbook answer.

Karol
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Homework Statement


A mass m is sent from Earth into an orbit. the period is T.
What is the energy required to put it into orbit. express it with T, m, M, R(radius of earth)

Homework Equations


$$E=\frac{1}{2}mv^2-\frac{GMm}{r}$$
$$2\pi r=vT$$

The Attempt at a Solution


I expressed the radius of the orbit r and the velocity:
$$r=\sqrt[3]{\frac{GMT^2}{4\pi^2}}$$
$$v=\sqrt[3]{\frac{2\pi GM}{T}}$$
Those results are correct according to the book. the energy required:
$$E=\frac{1}{2}mv^2-\frac{GMm}{r}-\left(-\frac{GMm}{R}\right)$$
$$E=m\frac{\sqrt[3]{\frac{4\pi^{2}G^{2}M^2}{T^2}}}{2}-GMm\left(\sqrt[3]{\frac{4\pi^2}{GMT^2}}-\frac{1}{R}\right)$$
$$E=m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2}\pi^2}{2T^2}}-m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{3}M^{3} 4\pi^2}{GMT^2}}+\frac{GMm}{R}$$
$$E=m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2}\pi^2}{2T^2}}-m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2} 4\pi^2}{T^2}}+\frac{GMm}{R}$$
The answer in the book is:
$$E=GMm\left( \frac{1}{R}-\sqrt[3]{\frac{\pi^2}{2GMT^2}}\right)$$
I can reach to that form, but this answer includes only the first:
$$\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2}\pi^2}{2T^2}}$$
And the last elements in my result.
 
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I solved it using the energy in an orbit:
$$E=-\frac{GMm}{2r}$$
 
Karol said:

Homework Statement


A mass m is sent from Earth into an orbit. the period is T.
What is the energy required to put it into orbit. express it with T, m, M, R(radius of earth)

Homework Equations


$$E=\frac{1}{2}mv^2-\frac{GMm}{r}$$
$$2\pi r=vT$$

The Attempt at a Solution


I expressed the radius of the orbit r and the velocity:
$$r=\sqrt[3]{\frac{GMT^2}{4\pi^2}}$$
$$v=\sqrt[3]{\frac{2\pi GM}{T}}$$
Those results are correct according to the book. the energy required:
$$E=\frac{1}{2}mv^2-\frac{GMm}{r}-\left(-\frac{GMm}{R}\right)$$
$$E=m\frac{\sqrt[3]{\frac{4\pi^{2}G^{2}M^2}{T^2}}}{2}-GMm\left(\sqrt[3]{\frac{4\pi^2}{GMT^2}}-\frac{1}{R}\right)$$
$$E=m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2}\pi^2}{2T^2}}-m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{3}M^{3} 4\pi^2}{GMT^2}}+\frac{GMm}{R}$$
$$E=m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2}\pi^2}{2T^2}}-m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2} 4\pi^2}{T^2}}+\frac{GMm}{R}$$
The answer in the book is:
$$E=GMm\left( \frac{1}{R}-\sqrt[3]{\frac{\pi^2}{2GMT^2}}\right)$$
I can reach to that form, but this answer includes only the first:
$$\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2}\pi^2}{2T^2}}$$
And the last elements in my result.
The first and second terms of your solution can be added together and are identical to the second term of the books solution.
 
dauto said:
The first and second terms of your solution can be added together and are identical to the second term of the books solution.
My solution:
Karol said:
$$E=m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2}\pi^2}{2T^2}}-m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2} 4\pi^2}{T^2}}+\frac{GMm}{R}$$
The answer in the book is:
$$E=GMm\left( \frac{1}{R}-\sqrt[3]{\frac{\pi^2}{2GMT^2}}\right)$$
It's not true that the first and second terms of my solution make the term in the book:
$$m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2}\pi^2}{2T^2}}-m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2} 4\pi^2}{T^2}}=\frac{1}{8}m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2}\pi^2}{T^2}}-64m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2} \pi^2}{T^2}}=-63\frac{7}{8}m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2}\pi^2}{T^2}}$$
And the term in the book gives:
$$GMm\sqrt[3]{\frac{\pi^2}{2GMT^2}}=m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{3}M^{3}\pi^2}{2GMT^2}}=m\sqrt[3]{\frac{G^{2}M^{2}\pi^2}{2T^2}}$$
And it's only the first term in my answer
 

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