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Intro to Energy & Kinetic Energy
9. Work & Energy / Intro to Energy & Kinetic Energy / Problem 7
Problem 7

Spacecrafts, P and Q, have been deployed to orbit around the center of the Earth. Spacecraft P is moving at an altitude of 5.50×\(\times\)103 km, while spacecraft Q is at an altitude of 10.8×\(\times\)103 km. Determine the kinetic energies of P and Q, if their mass is 2.00×\(\times\)103 kg each. Assume the orbits are circular.
Hint: gravitational constant G = 6.67×\(\times\)10-11 Nm2/kg2, mass of earth ME = 5.98×\(\times\)1024 kg, radius of earth = 6.38×\(\times\)106 m