If gravitational constant is decreasing in time, what will remain unchanged in case of a satellite orbiting around earth?
The gravitational constant, denoted as G, is a fundamental constant in physics that quantifies the strength of the gravitational force between two masses.
Class 11 Physics
Gravitation
CBSE EXAM 2024-25
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When the central gravitational force decreases, it does not produce any torque on the orbiting body because the force acts along the radius vector. As a result, the angular momentum of the body remains conserved. Since angular momentum is directly related to areal velocity (the area swept per unit time), the areal velocity also remains unchanged. This conservation of angular momentum and areal velocity aligns with Kepler’s second law, which states that a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal time intervals, irrespective of changes in the central force magnitude, as long as no external torque is applied.