Orbits clarification (1 Viewer)

[Run hard@thehsc]

its always the case that the shorter the orbital radius, the higher the velocity - but this necessarily does not imply that it has more energy right? (especially in the case of low earth orbits)!!!

 

[d1zzyohs]

it will have more kinetic energy.
total mechanical energy is conserved:

 

[Vall]

total energy formula for orbit is E = -(GMm) / (2r) being derived from gravitational potential energy added to kinetic energy (derived from assuming circular orbit equating gravitational force with centripetal force). From this energy formula we can see that a decreased orbital radius leads to a decrease in total energy.

 

[Akshara Patil]

total energy formula for orbit is E = -(GMm) / (2r) being derived from gravitational potential energy added to kinetic energy (derived from assuming circular orbit equating gravitational force with centripetal force). From this energy formula we can see that a decreased orbital radius leads to a decrease in total energy.

Yep thas tru - total energy is conserved within orbits, but not across orbits ig!