What extra energy must be supplied to transfer a satellite of mass m from a circular orbit of radius R₁ to another circular orbit of radius R₂>R₁ around a planet of mass M?
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What extra energy must be supplied to transfer a satellite of mass m from a circular orbit of radius R₁ to another circular orbit of radius R₂>R₁ around a planet of mass M?

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

Step 1: Total energy of a circular orbit is E=−GMm/(2r). Step 2: Transfer energy ΔE=E₂−E₁=−GMm/(2R₂)+GMm/(2R₁)=(GMm/2)(1/R₁−1/R₂). Final answer: D — (GMm/2)(1/R₁−1/R₂).