A geostationary satellite orbits the earth at a height of nearly 36,000 km from the surface of earth. What is the potential due to earth.s gravity at the site of this satellite? (Take the potential energy at infinity to be zero). Mass of the earth= 6.0 xx 10^24 kg, radius = 6400 km, G = 6.67 xx 10^(-11)Nm^2//kg^2

A geostationary satellite orbits the earth at a height of nearly 36,00

1.	A geostationary satellite orbits the earth at a height of nearly 36,000 km from the surface of earth. What is the potential due to earth.s gravity at the site of this satellite? (Take the potential energy at infinity to be zero). Mass of the earth= 6.0 xx 10^24 kg, radius = 6400 km, G = 6.67 xx 10^(-11)Nm^2//kg^2
Answer» Solution :GRAVITATIONAL potential at height h from the surface of earth is `V = -(GM)/((R+h)) = (-6.67 xx 10^(-11) xx (6 xx 10^24))/((6.4 xx 10^6 + 36 xx 10^6) ) = -9.4 xx 10^6 J//kg`