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 xx10^(24)kg,radius = 6400km , G = 6.67 xx10^(-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 xx10^(24)kg,radius = 6400km , G = 6.67 xx10^(-11) Nm^(2)//kg^2.
Answer» Solution :Gravitational potential at HEIGHT H from the surface of earth is `V = -(GM)/((R+h))` `=((-6.67xx10^(-11))xx(6xx10^(24)))/((6.4 xx10^6+3xx10^6))=-9.4 xx10^(6)J//kg`