A satellite gets unstable in its orbit, starts to fall towards the earth and also starts burning. If the satellite had a potential energy of 1000 MJ initially and by the time it reaches the surface the earth, it attains a kinetic energy of 500 MJ. Then, how much energy is spent as heat generated on the satellite?
500J
potential energy is converted to kinetic energy and heat.
Using the law of conservation of energy,
PE = KE + Heat Energy
1000 = 500 + heat energy
heat energy = 500 MJ