Total Orbital Energy
E = -(G·M·m) / (2·r)
What it says
The total mechanical energy (kinetic plus potential) of a mass m in a circular orbit of radius r around a mass M.
Symbols
| Symbol | Quantity | Dimension |
|---|---|---|
E | Total orbital energy (J) | M L^2 T^-2 |
M | Central mass (kg) | M |
m | Orbiting mass (kg) | M |
r | Orbital radius (m) | L |
G | Gravitational constant (6.67430e-11 N·m^2/kg^2) | M^-1 L^3 T^-2 |
Work it out
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Connects to
Filed under Mechanics · derive through it in the explorer