Is the law of conservation of mechanical energy fulfilled for a satellite moving in an elliptical orbit? What transformations
September 17, 2020 | Education
| Is the law of conservation of mechanical energy fulfilled for a satellite moving in an elliptical orbit? What transformations of energy occur during the satellite’s transition from apogee to perigee?
The mechanical energy of a satellite moving in a vacuum remains constant. At its apogee, the potential energy is greatest; during the transition to perigee, part of the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.
