Question

ENERGY OF AN ORBITING SATELLITE
For the satellite moving in an orbit around the earth, the ratio of its potential energy to kinetic energy is:

• A. $1$
• B. $-1$
• C. $2$
• D. $-2$

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

$-2$

Kinetic energy of the satellite, $K=\frac{G{M}_{E}m}{2r}$

Potential energy of the satellite, $U=-\frac{G{M}_{E}m}{r}$

Their corresponding ratio is $\frac{U}{K}=-2$