Question

You wish to put a satellite in orbit around Earth.

Part A

Which takes more energy per kilogram of satellite: launching the satellite from the ground to a height of 1600 km above the ground or placing the satellite into orbit once it has reached that altitude?

-Both energies are nearly the same.

- More energy is required to get the satellite up to the appropriate height than is required to put the satellite into orbit once it is already at the appropriate position.

-More energy is required to put the satellite into orbit once it is already at the appropriate position than is required to get the satellite up to the appropriate height.

Part B

Repeat previous part for an orbit 3200 km above the ground.

Both energies are nearly the same.

More energy is required to get the satellite up to the appropriate height than is required to put the satellite into orbit once it is already at the appropriate position.

More energy is required to put the satellite into orbit once it is already at the appropriate position than is required to get the satellite up to the appropriate height.

Part C

Repeat previous for an orbit 4800 km above the ground.

More energy is required to put the satellite into orbit once it is already at the appropriate position than is required to get the satellite up to the appropriate height.

Both energies are nearly the same

More energy is required to get the satellite up to the appropriate height than is required to put the satellite into orbit once it is already at the appropriate position.

Answer 1