What is the effect of increasing a satellite's distance from the central object on its gravitational potential energy?
The gravitational potential energy becomes less negative (increases).
What happens to a satellite's motion when its total mechanical energy is zero?
The satellite achieves escape velocity and breaks free from the central object's gravity, moving away until its speed is zero at an infinite distance.
What is the effect of a satellite getting closer to the central object?
The gravitational potential energy becomes more negative.
What is the effect of increasing the radius of a circular orbit on the satellite's orbital speed?
The satellite's orbital speed decreases.
What is the effect of a satellite reaching escape velocity?
The satellite breaks free from the central object's gravity and continues moving away until its speed is zero at an infinite distance.
What is escape velocity?
The minimum speed needed for an object to break free from a central object's gravity.
Define gravitational potential energy.
The energy an object possesses due to its position in a gravitational field, defined as zero when infinitely far away and negative as it gets closer.
What is periapsis?
The point in an orbit closest to the central object; where kinetic energy is highest and potential energy is most negative.
What is apoapsis?
The point in an orbit farthest from the central object; where kinetic energy is lowest and potential energy is least negative.
Define total mechanical energy in the context of satellite motion.
The sum of the kinetic and gravitational potential energies of a satellite in orbit. It is constant in both circular and elliptical orbits.
Compare circular and elliptical orbits in terms of energy.
Circular: Constant kinetic and potential energy, constant total mechanical energy. Elliptical: Fluctuating kinetic and potential energy, constant total mechanical energy.
Compare the speed of a satellite in circular vs. elliptical orbits.
Circular: Constant speed. Elliptical: Speed varies; highest at periapsis, lowest at apoapsis.
