derive an expression for the total energy of a satellite orbiting the earth. What is the significance of negative total energy?

Dear Student ,
Here are some links which will help you to solve this questions with proper explanation .
https://www.meritnation.com/ask-answer/question/derive-an-expression-for-total-energy-of-revolving-satellite/gravitation/10792109

Now significance of this negative energy is , when a satellite is revolving around the earth then due to friction with the atmosphere of the earth or due to the collisions with the meteors in the space the total energy-GMm2r reduces so the GMm2r is increasing .Resultanly the value of r is decreasing .So the satellite is coming close to the earth .So from the surface of the earth as the distance of the satellite decreases the orbital velocity and kinetic energy increases though the total energy of the satellite decreases .

Regards

  • -9
What are you looking for?