IB Physics HL D.1.7 Two-Body Potential Energy Question Bank

Practise IB Physics HL D.1.7 by solving two-body potential, orbital-transfer and total-energy problems for satellites and planets.

[Maximum number: 2]

A satellite of mass m is in a circular orbit of radius r around Earth. Earth has mass M.

Show that the total energy of the satellite is given by $E_{\mathrm{T}}=-\frac{G M m}{2 r}$ .

Identifies orbital velocity as $v=\sqrt{\frac{G M}{r}}$ $E_{\kappa}=\frac{1}{2} m v^{2}=\frac{G M m}{2 r} \text { so } E_{\mathrm{T}}=\frac{G M m}{2 r}-\frac{G M m}{r} \text { Hence result }$

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D.1.7 (HL)—Two-body potential energy question 1