Physics A-Level
Kinetic, potential and total energy in circular orbits
What Kinetic, potential and total energy in circular orbits means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definition of Kinetic, potential and total energy in circular orbits
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Reference: AQA
Kinetic energy is Eₖ = GMm/(2r), gravitational potential energy is Eₚ = −GMm/r, and total energy is E = Eₖ + Eₚ = −GMm/(2r).
Topics that use Kinetic, potential and total energy in circular orbits
- Orbits of planets and satellites (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Escape velocity
- Geostationary orbit
- Gravitational force as centripetal force
- Gravitational potential energy
- Low orbit
- Orbital radius
- Synchronous orbit
- Altitude
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