A 575 kg satellite is in a circular orbit at an altitude of

A 575 kg satellite is in a circular orbit at an altitude of 600 km above the Earth\'s surface. Because of air friction, the satellite eventually falls to the Earth\'s surface, where it hits the ground with a speed of 1.80 km/s. How much energy was transformed into internal energy by means of air friction? Changed: Your submitted answer was incorrect. Your current answer has not been submitted.

Solution

mass of satellite , m = 575 Kg

height , h = 600 km

speed, u = 1800 m/s

let the energy transformed into internal energy is W

Using conseravtion of energy

0.5 * m * v^2 - G * M * m/R + Wf = -0.5 * G * M * m/(R + h)

0.5 * 575 * (1800)^2 - 6.673 *10^-11 * 575 * 5.98 *10^24/(6.371 *10^6) + Wf = -0.5 * 6.673 *10^-11 * 575 * 5.98 *10^24/(6.371 *10^6 + 600 *10^3)

solving for Wf

Wf = 18625881893  1.862 *10^10 J