An artificial satellite of mass m is moving in a circular orbit at a h...
Conserving momentum during the explosion
Increase in mechanical energy is ΔE = ΔK + ΔU = ΔK + 0
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An artificial satellite of mass m is moving in a circular orbit at a h...
Explanation:
1. Initial situation:
- The artificial satellite of mass m is moving in a circular orbit at a height equal to the radius R of the Earth.
- In this circular orbit, the satellite is in equilibrium due to the balance between the gravitational force and the centripetal force.
- The gravitational force provides the centripetal force required to keep the satellite in orbit.
2. Explosion:
- Suddenly, due to an internal explosion, the satellite breaks into two parts of equal masses.
- One part of the satellite stops just after the explosion, which means it loses all its orbital velocity.
- The other part continues to move in the original circular orbit.
3. Motion of the first part:
- Since the first part of the satellite stops after the explosion, it loses all its kinetic energy.
- It will then fall towards the Earth under the influence of gravity.
- As it falls, it converts its potential energy into kinetic energy.
4. Motion of the second part:
- The second part of the satellite continues to move in the original circular orbit.
- Its mass and orbital radius remain the same, so the centripetal force required to keep it in orbit also remains the same.
- The gravitational force acting on this part also remains the same.
5. Increase in mechanical energy:
- Before the explosion, the mechanical energy of the system (satellite + Earth) was the sum of the potential energy and the kinetic energy of the satellite.
- After the explosion, the first part of the satellite falls towards the Earth, converting its potential energy into kinetic energy.
- This results in an increase in the mechanical energy of the system.
- The increase in mechanical energy is equal to the potential energy of the falling part of the satellite.
- The potential energy of an object at a height h is given by mgh, where m is the mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height.
- In this case, the height h is equal to the radius R of the Earth. So, the increase in mechanical energy is equal to mgh, which is equal to mgR.
6. Final answer:
- The increase in mechanical energy of the system (satellite + Earth) due to the explosion is mgR.
- Therefore, the correct answer is option 'C' - mgR/4.
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