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The total energy of a satellite doesn't change. At its closest approach to the
planet, it has the most kinetic energy and the least potential, whereas at its
furthest retreat from the planet, it has the least kinetic energy and the most
potential. But their sum ... the satellite's total mechanical energy ... is always
the same.
(It may gain heat energy when the sun is shining directly on it, and lose it
when it's in the planet's cold shadow, but neither of those changes affects
its orbit.)
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoIn a circular orbit, the kinetic energy is constant. In an elliptical, non-circular orbit,
the kinetic energy is greatest at the point in the orbit where the distance between
the satellite and central body is minimum.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe Perigee of the orbit. (when the satellite is closest to whatever it is orbiting)
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoIts potential energy is greatest at the apogee, where its distance from the central body is greatest.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe satellite potential energy is E= - MsGMe/r .
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Is a asteroid's orbit elliptical?
Yes. They orbit the Sun and as per Kepler's first law they follow an elliptical path. Do note that a circular orbit is a special type of elliptical orbit.
What year did a satellite go into orbit around venus?
In 2005 a satellite went into orbit around Venus.
A satellite is 200 miles above the earth It has a mass of 150 kg If the mass of the satellite were tripled?
You don't really have a question here. If the satellite is in orbit, the mass is essentially irrelevant; it wouldn't change the speed of the orbit or the altitude. A larger satellite mass WOULD HAVE required more fuel and more energy to LAUNCH it, but once in orbit, it will stay there. The only exception would be an exceptionally large, light satellite. There is still some minuscule traces of atmosphere at 200 miles, and a large, light satellite would be slowed by air friction much more than a small dense satellite would. This is what caused the "ECHO" satellite - essentially a silvered mylar balloon inflated in orbit as a primitive reflector comsat - to deorbit.
What happens to it's orbits if a satellite is in orbit around the Earth and it slows down?
If the speed of a satelite orbiting earth were to decrease, it's orbit would come closer to the earth, and eventually it would fall to the Earth. Space administratioins(like NASA) use calculus and whatever fancy term thay use for their math to try and make it land in a safe place. On the other hand, if it were to increase in speed, it would eventually leave Earth's orbit.
How is a weather satellite in polar orbit able to view Earths surface?
From the question, I'm guessing that when the questioner reads the term "polar orbit", he's picturing the satellite doing a little tiny circle in the sky over the North Pole. This is not an accurate understanding of the term. Remember that the center of the orbit of an artificial satellite has to be at the center of the earth. A 'polar orbit' is an orbit that covers both poles. If you picture the globe of the earth, the satellite's orbit is a circle standing up, with the satellite traveling up and down, passing over both poles in each complete revolution of the earth. As the earth rotates, every point on earth passes under the orbit, and sooner or later, every point on earth will be visible from the satellite.
At what part of an elliptical orbit does a satellite have the greatest speed the least speed?
in the orbit of a planet there is a point called perihelion which is closest point to the sun and aphelion which is furthest from the sun . Moment of a planet in it's elliptical orbit reaches it's maximum in perihelion
When a satellite in an elliptical orbit approaches closer to the planet it is orbiting its kinetic energy is decrease or increases?
incresse
Where does a satellite in elliptical motion have the most kinetic energy?
At apapsis - when it is closest to the planet. In that case, it is moving fastest. Note that at apapsis, its potential energy will be lowest, since it is closer to the planet, while its kinetic energy will be highest. The sum of potential + kinetic energy doesn't change during the orbit.
Why does the speed of a satellite undergo change in an elliptical orbit?
Variance from mean distance denotes an acceleration as kinetic and potential energies are interchanged.
A satellite in an elliptical orbit gains speed when it?
A satellite in an elliptical orbit gains speed as it draws closer to the central body and loses speed as it moves farther away from the central body.
A satellite in an elliptical orbit travels at constant what?
If the path is perfectly circular, yes, the speed is constant. This should not be confused with the velocity, because while speed is constant, its direction is not; therefore velocity is always changing.
What is pogee?
Apogee is the point at which a satellite in an elliptical orbit is At its apogee, the satellite travels slower than at any other point in its orbit.
What is a satellite orbit?
A satellite's orbit is just the path it follows around the Earth or some other planet.Satellites' orbits can be elliptical or circular.
Does an object with high gravitational potential energy always have a low kinetic energy?
No. For example, a satellite in orbit has a lot of both.
A satellite in an elliptical orbit loses speed when it?
A satellite in a closed orbit has the greatest speed when it's closest to the planet, and the lowest speed when it's farthest from the planet.
Why a satellite is to be transferred to an orbit of larger radius energy is to be supplied to the satellite?
Object further away from gravitation center has higher potential energy. Therefore work(energy expense) must be done to put it there.
Gravity affects the speed of a satellite in an elliptical orbit?
Yes. Gravity affects EVERYTHING.
