An artificial satellite moving in a circular orbit at a distance $h$ from the centre of the Earth has a…

An artificial satellite moving in a circular orbit at a distance $h$ from the centre of the Earth has a total energy $E_0$. Then, its potential energy is
  1. $-E_0$
  2. $1.5 E_0$
  3. $E_0$
  4. $2 E_0$

Solution

Potential energy, $U=\frac{-G M m}{h}$ Total energy, $E_0=\frac{-G M m}{2 h}$ Hence, potential energy $=2 \times$ Total energy $ \begin{aligned} & =2 \times E_0 \quad\left(\because \text { Total energy }=E_0\right) \\ & =2 E_0 \end{aligned} $

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2021 (25 Aug Shift 2)

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