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AP Physics C: Mechanics
6.6 Motion of Orbiting Satellites
3.3 Potential Energy
3.2 Work
2.10 Circular Motion
2.6 Gravitational Force
Multi-Unit
AdvancedMCQMathematicalConceptual21k
A diagram showing two concentric dashed circles centered on a solid filled circle. The central circle is labeled M. The inner dashed circle has an arrow extending from the center to its perimeter, directed upward and to the right at 45 degrees, labeled R. A small solid dot on the inner dashed circle represents a satellite and is labeled m. The outer dashed circle has twice the radius of the inner circle, with an arrow extending horizontally to the right from the center to its perimeter, labeled 2R. A dashed spiral curve with a single arrowhead shows a transition path from the inner circle to the outer circle. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.
A satellite of mass m orbiting a planet of mass M at radii R and 2R.
A satellite of mass \(m\) initially moves in a stable circular orbit of radius \(R\) around a planet of mass \(M\), where \(M \gg m\). The satellite's thrusters are fired to perform an orbital transition maneuver that places the satellite into a larger circular orbit of radius \(2R\). Which row in the table correctly indicates the change in kinetic energy \(\Delta K\), the change in gravitational potential energy \(\Delta U\), and the work \(W_{\text{thrust}}\) done on the satellite by the thrusters during the transition from the initial orbit to the final orbit?

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