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AP Physics C: Mechanics
6.6 Motion of Orbiting Satellites
AdvancedMCQMathematicalConceptual13.4k
A grayscale diagram showing an ellipse with a horizontal major axis and a vertical minor axis. A solid black circle located at the left focus of the ellipse is labeled Earth. A point on the far left vertex of the major axis is labeled P. A point on the far right vertex of the major axis is labeled A. A point on the top vertex of the vertical minor axis is labeled M. A horizontal dashed line segment connects the left and right vertices, and a vertical dashed line segment connects the top and bottom vertices. A single curved arrow along the upper perimeter of the ellipse points counterclockwise to show the direction of motion. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.
Satellite in an elliptical orbit around Earth with points P, M, and A indicated.
A satellite of mass \(m\) travels in an elliptical orbit around Earth, which is located at one focus of the ellipse.

Point \(P\) is at periapsis (closest approach to Earth).
Point \(M\) is at one endpoint of the minor axis.
Point \(A\) is at apoapsis (farthest distance from Earth).

Which of the following correctly ranks the magnitude of the rate of change of the satellite's kinetic energy, \(\left|\dfrac{dK}{dt}\right|\), at points \(P\), \(M\), and \(A\)?

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