Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 13 - Gravitation - Problems - Page 383: 62a

Answer

The ratio of the potential energy of satellite B to satellite A is $~~\frac{1}{2}$

Work Step by Step

Let $R_E$ be the Earth's radius The gravitational potential energy at a height $h$ above the Earth's surface is $U_h = -\frac{GMm}{R_E+h}$ We can find the ratio of the potential energy of satellite B to satellite A: $\frac{U_B}{U_A} = \frac{-\frac{GMm}{6370~km+19,110~km}}{-\frac{GMm}{6370~km+6370~km}}$ $\frac{U_B}{U_A} = \frac{6370~km+6370~km}{6370~km+19,110~km}$ $\frac{U_B}{U_A} = \frac{12,740~km}{25,480~km}$ $\frac{U_B}{U_A} = \frac{1}{2}$ The ratio of the potential energy of satellite B to satellite A is $~~\frac{1}{2}$
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