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: 68f

Answer

For elliptical orbit, the total energy can be written as (see Eq. 13-42) $E=-G M m / 2 a,$ where $a$ is the semi-major axis. Thus, $$ a=-\frac{G M m}{2 E}$$$$=-\frac{\left(6.67 \times 10^{-11} \mathrm{m}^{3} / \mathrm{s}^{2} \cdot \mathrm{kg}\right)\left(5.98 \times 10^{24} \mathrm{kg}\right)(2000 \mathrm{kg})}{2\left(-6.02 \times 10^{10} \mathrm{J}\right)}$$$$=6.63 \times 10^{6} \mathrm{m} .$$

Work Step by Step

For elliptical orbit, the total energy can be written as (see Eq. 13-42) $E=-G M m / 2 a,$ where $a$ is the semi-major axis. Thus, $$ a=-\frac{G M m}{2 E}$$$$=-\frac{\left(6.67 \times 10^{-11} \mathrm{m}^{3} / \mathrm{s}^{2} \cdot \mathrm{kg}\right)\left(5.98 \times 10^{24} \mathrm{kg}\right)(2000 \mathrm{kg})}{2\left(-6.02 \times 10^{10} \mathrm{J}\right)}$$$$=6.63 \times 10^{6} \mathrm{m} .$$
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