All Questions
11
questions
1
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1
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336
views
How to calculate the energy in a hyperbolic orbit?
I'm recently reading a book about rocket science which involved orbital mechanics. I know that in an elliptical orbit, the energy $ E=-\frac{GMm}{2a}$, and therefore can get the vis-viva equation: $ ...
- 11
0
votes
2
answers
237
views
Total energy of a satellite
I have learnt that change in potential energy in any conservative force field is equal to the negative of work done by that field through a distance. While applying the same for gravitational ...
- 727
0
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Work done moving a satellite into higher orbit
I am confused about the concept of work in relation to conservative and non-conservative forces.
When transferring a satellite from a lower orbit into a higher orbit via a Hohmann transfer, my ...
- 97
0
votes
0
answers
61
views
How to calculate the total energy of a planet at rest?
Let's just say we have the Earth-Moon system isolated in space, with Earth at rest, and the moon orbiting it.
How can we calculate the total energy of Earth in such a case (Kinetic energy would be ...
10
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Under which conditions do two moving bodies start orbiting each other around their center of mass?
If two bodies are close, both will get attracted to each other and collide. Under what conditions will the two bodies start revolving around their common center of mass? I understand that such bodies ...
- 415
11
votes
4
answers
3k
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Why does an orbit become hyperbolic when total orbital energy is positive?
I stumbled across this page describing the energy of a given object in orbit.
It describes 'total energy' as:
$$E_{k} + E_{p} = E_{\mathrm{total}} $$
where
$$E_k = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$$
and
$$E_p = \...
- 113
1
vote
1
answer
106
views
Where does the energy from tidal power plants come from? [duplicate]
Tidal power plants taps into the energy in the motion of the oceans due to the gravitational interaction between the earth and the moon, so much is clear to me. This question is about where would this ...
- 577
-2
votes
1
answer
972
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Total mechanical energy of two neutron stars orbiting a common center ($E=U+K$) [closed]
Suppose we have two neutron stars of mass $M$, orbiting a common centre at a distance $R$. (i.e. the two neutron stars are $2R$ apart from each other, and $R$ apart from the centre). I've attempted to ...
- 191
-1
votes
1
answer
498
views
conservation of energy in orbital motion [duplicate]
Case I:
Here, a trajectory is placed stationary in the path of a planet's orbit. Now this trajectory has no mechanical energy to speak of. Now as the planet approaches the object the object comes ...
- 629
1
vote
2
answers
160
views
Does zero work mean no energy transfer in a circular orbit?
Suppose you have a planet and a moon. If the moons orbit around the planet is stable, by which I mean the moon is neither getting closer or getting further away from the planet. I understand that ...
- 1,747
1
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1
answer
142
views
Could an orbiting mass generate power?
If an heavy object (e.g. 10 tons) orbiting around Earth at 370 miles high, is connected with a cable back to Earth, we assumed either Earth is going to pull the mass or vice versa (or it will fall ...
- 113