Exams › JEE Advanced › Physics
An Earth satellite is transferred from one stable circular orbit to a larger stable circular orbit. Which of the following quantities increases as a result of this change?
- Gravitational potential energy
- Angular velocity
- Linear orbital velocity
- Centripetal acceleration
Correct answer: Gravitational potential energy
Solution
For a circular orbit of radius r: potential energy U = -G*M*m/r increases (becomes less negative, i.e. larger) as r increases. Orbital speed v = sqrt(G*M/r) decreases. Angular velocity omega = sqrt(G*M/r³) decreases. Centripetal acceleration a = G*M/r² decreases. So only the gravitational potential energy increases with a larger orbit.
Related JEE Advanced Physics questions
- Two objects, each with a mass of M, are positioned at a fixed distance of 2L apart. A smaller particle of mass m is launched from the midpoint of the line connecting their centers, moving in a direction perpendicular to this line. Given the gravitational constant G, which of the following statements is accurate?
- A central force is given as F(r) = −k / rⁿ, where k is a constant. What condition must n satisfy for a circular orbit to remain stable?
- Which of the following correctly represents the relationship |F| = dU/dr?
- Two objects, each with mass M, are placed at a fixed distance of 2L apart. A particle of mass m is launched from the midpoint between these two objects in a direction perpendicular to the line connecting them. Given the gravitational constant G, which of the following statements is accurate?
- Consider a spherical gaseous cloud of mass density ρ(r) in free space where r is the radial distance from its center. The gaseous cloud is made of particles of equal mass m moving in circular orbits about the common center with the same kinetic energy K. The force acting on the particle is their mutual gravitational force. If ρ(r) is constant in time, the particle number density n(r) = ρ(r)/m is (G is universal gravitational constant).
- A particle with mass m is influenced by the gravitational force of a much larger mass M (M >> m). The particle orbits in a circular path of radius r₀ with a time period T₀. An additional central force is introduced, arising from the potential energy V(r) = αmα/r³, where α is a positive constant with appropriate units and r is the orbital radius. If the particle continues to move in the same circular orbit of radius r₀ under the combined gravitational and additional potential, but its time period changes to T₁, what is the value of (T₁² - T₀²)/T₀²? [G represents the gravitational constant.]
⚔️ Practice JEE Advanced Physics free + battle 1v1 →