What is the work done by force of gravity on a satellite moving around the earth?
Have you ever wondered about the work done by the force of gravity on a satellite as it orbits the Earth? It may surprise you to learn that the work done by the force of gravity on a satellite moving around the Earth is actually zero.
This is because the force of gravity acts in the direction of the displacement of the satellite, but the displacement is always perpendicular to the force of gravity. Since the dot product of two perpendicular vectors is zero, the work done by the force of gravity on the satellite is zero.
Additionally, the force of gravity is a conservative force, which means that the work done by the force is independent of the path taken by the satellite. This means that the work done by the force of gravity on the satellite is the same whether the satellite follows a straight line path or a curved path around the Earth.
However, the gravitational force does change the kinetic energy of the satellite as it moves around the Earth. For example, if the satellite is in a low orbit, it will have a lower kinetic energy than if it were in a higher orbit. This change in kinetic energy is due to the change in the gravitational potential energy of the satellite as it moves around the Earth.
So the next time you think about the work done by the force of gravity on a satellite, remember that it is actually zero. But the force of gravity does play a crucial role in the movement and energy of a satellite orbiting the Earth.