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A rocket carrying a new 960-kg satellite into orbit misfires and places the satellite in an orbit with an altitude of 120 km, well below its operational altitude in low-Earth orbit.

(a) What would be the height of the satellite's orbit if its total energy were 550 MJ greater?

(b) What would be the difference in the system's kinetic energy? (Include the sign of the value in your answer.)

(c) What would be the difference in the system's potential energy? (Include the sign of the value in your answer.)

These answers are all in MJ. (Please answer the question instead of taking all of the points)

User Pijusn
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Answer:(a) To find the height of the satellite's orbit if its total energy were 550 MJ greater, we can use the following equation:

K2 + U2 = K1 + U1 + 550 MJ

Since the satellite is in a circular orbit, its kinetic energy is given by:

K = (1/2)mv^2

where m is the mass of the satellite, and v is its velocity.

We can use the following equation to relate the height of the satellite's orbit to its velocity:

v = sqrt(GM/R)

where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the Earth, and R is the radius of the Earth plus the height of the satellite's orbit.

Therefore, we can express the kinetic energy of the satellite in terms of its height:

K = (1/2)m(GM/R)

Using these equations, we can rewrite the conservation of energy equation as:

(1/2)m(GM/(R1+h1)) - GMm/(R1+h1) = (1/2)m(GM/(R2+h2)) - GMm/(R2+h2) + 550 MJ

where R1 is the radius of the Earth, and R2 is the radius of the Earth plus h2.

Simplifying and solving for h2, we get:

h2 = [(GMm/(R1+h1)) - (GMm/(R2+h2)) - 550 MJ/(GM/(R2+h2))]^(-1) - R2

Plugging in the given values, we get:

h2 = 931 km

Therefore, the height of the satellite's orbit would be 931 km if its total energy were 550 MJ greater.

(b) To find the difference in the system's kinetic energy, we can use the following equation:

Delta K = K2 - K1

Substituting the expressions for K1 and K2, we get:

Delta K = (1/2)m(GM/(R2+h2)) - (1/2)m(GM/(R1+h1))

Plugging in the given values, we get:

Delta K = -7.5 x 10^9 J

The negative sign indicates that the system's kinetic energy has decreased.

(c) To find the difference in the system's potential energy, we can use the following equation:

Delta U = U2 - U1

Substituting the expressions for U1 and U2, we get:

Delta U = -GMm/(R2+h2) + GMm/(R1+h1)

Plugging in the given values, we get:

Delta U = 5.9 x 10^9 J

The positive sign indicates that the system's potential energy has increased.

Explanation:

User Adam Lambert
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