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SarahM
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Is the comparison of the kinetic energy of a satellite in orbit around the Earth to that of a truck traveling down a road realistic? Are they in the same reference frame?
It depends on how fast the truck is moving.SarahM said:Is the comparison of the kinetic energy of a satellite in orbit around the Earth to that of a truck traveling down a road realistic? Are they in the same reference frame?
Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. It is calculated by the equation KE = 1/2 * m * v^2, where m is the mass of the object and v is its velocity.
The kinetic energy of an Earth satellite and a truck in the same reference frame would be different because they have different velocities. The satellite is moving at a much higher velocity compared to the truck, so it would have a greater kinetic energy.
Yes, kinetic energy is conserved as long as there are no external forces acting on the system. In this scenario, the Earth satellite and truck are not experiencing any external forces, so their total kinetic energy will remain constant.
Yes, the mass of an object has a direct impact on its kinetic energy. The larger the mass, the greater the kinetic energy, assuming the velocity remains constant.
Aside from mass and velocity, other factors that can affect the kinetic energy of these objects include air resistance, friction, and any external forces acting on the objects. In addition, changes in the objects' velocity or mass will also affect their kinetic energy.