Question

For a satellite moving in an orbit around the earth, the ratio of kinetic to potential energy is:

• A. 1:02
• B. 2:01
• C. 1:01
• D. 4:01

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Key Idea: The potential energy of satellite is twice its kinetic energy but opposite in sign. Potential energy, $ U=-\frac{G{{M}_{e}}m}{{{R}_{e}}}or|U|=\frac{G{{M}_{e}}m}{{{R}_{e}}} $ Kinetic energy, $ K=\frac{1}{2}\frac{G{{M}_{e}}m}{{{R}_{e}}} $ Thus, $ \frac{K}{|U|}=\frac{1}{2}\frac{G{{M}_{e}}m}{{{R}_{e}}}\times \frac{{{R}_{e}}}{G{{M}_{e}}m}=\frac{1}{2} $