Physics

Problem

Determine the amount of gravitational potential energy released when a

500\,\text{kg}

satellite drops from an orbit

1200\,\text{km}

above the Earth’s surface to an orbit

400\,\text{km}

above the surface. Use

M_{\oplus}=6.0\times10^{24}\,\text{kg}

R_{\oplus}=6.4\times10^{6}\,\text{m}

and

G=6.67\times10^{-11}\,\text{N\,m}^2\text{kg}^{-2}