A satellite moves in the circle orbit at the constant speed under the action of the gravitational force of a planet. The work done on the satellite in one revolution will have magnitude:
Correct answer: A. Zero
- A. Zero
- B. Half of the gravitational pull of the planet
- C. Equal to the gravitational pull of the planet
- D. Proportional to the diameter of the orbit
Explanation
A is the correct answer. In a circular orbit, the gravitational force is acting perpendicular to the direction of motion of the satellite. The work done by a force is given by the formula W= F ⋅ d, where F is the force, and d is the displacement. Since the gravitational force and the displacement are perpendicular, the dot product is zero, and the work done is zero.
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About Gravitation
Newton’s law of universal gravitation relates the force between masses to their masses and separation, while gravitational field strength explains weight and orbital motion. The topic covers satellite velocity and period, escape ideas, weightlessness in free fall, and artificial gravity, which differs from ordinary gravitational attraction.
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