Kinetic energy is the energy of an object in motion, dependent on its mass and velocity, influencing various physical processes.
Class 11 Physics
Gravitation
CBSE EXAM 2024-25
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When a satellite orbits the Earth, its total energy is a combination of kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy. The satellite remains in orbit because its total energy is negative, meaning it is bound to Earth’s gravitational field. Doubling the satellite’s kinetic energy significantly increases its total energy. If this increase is sufficient to make the total energy positive, the satellite escapes Earth’s gravitational influence.
In this situation, the additional kinetic energy allows the satellite to exceed the escape velocity required to leave Earth’s gravitational pull. The escape velocity is the minimum speed a body needs to break free from the gravitational field without further propulsion. By doubling the kinetic energy, the satellite surpasses this threshold, no longer constrained by Earth’s gravity.
This event would cause the satellite to transition from a stable orbit to a trajectory that takes it away from Earth indefinitely. It would no longer maintain its orbit or fall back to Earth because the increased energy breaks the balance between its gravitational attraction and the centrifugal force from its motion. Instead, it follows an open trajectory, leaving Earth’s gravitational field and venturing into space, no longer bound by Earth’s pull.