AP Physics C: Mechanics
6.6 Motion of Orbiting Satellites
A satellite of mass \(m\) is in a bound, elliptical orbit with semimajor axis \(a\) around a planet of mass \(M\), where \(M \gg m\). The satellite moves between its periapsis distance \(r_p\) and apoapsis distance \(r_a\) with no nonconservative forces present. Which of the following correctly describes the graphs of the gravitational potential energy \(U(r)\), kinetic energy \(K(r)\), and total mechanical energy \(E(r)\) of the satellite-planet system as functions of the orbital distance \(r\) over the interval \(r_p \le r \le r_a\)?
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