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lu6cifer
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Two satellites, A and B, both of mass m = 110 kg, move in the same circular orbit of radius r = 7.45 x 10^6 m around Earth but in opposite senses of rotation and therefore on a collision course.
(a) What is the total mechanical energy EA + EB of the two satellites + Earth system before the collision?
(b) If the collision is completely inelastic so that the wreckage remains as one piece of tangled material (mass=2m), what is the total mechanical energy immediately after the collision?
U = -GMm/r
K = -GMm/2r
Total E = U + K
U is the Earth system's energy, K is the satellites' energy
There are 2 satellites for (a), so I figure m = 2m
r is radius of Earth + radius of orbit
E = -GMm/2r
E = -GM(2)m
E = -6.67e-11 * 5.98e24 * 2(110) / (6.38e6 + 7.54e6)
E = -6344939986 J
For part (b), since m also equals 2m, I also get
-6344939986 J
Is there anything wrong? Because my online thing isn't accepting my answer...