- #1
jakeginobi
Homework Statement
At a circular orbit and at an elliptical orbit when do I use 1/2mv^2 instead of the kinetic equation from which I derived from F=GMm/r^2 which is Ek = GMm/2r
Homework Equations
F=GMm/r^2, Ek = GMm/2r,
Ek = 1/2mv^2
The Attempt at a Solution
For instance, when I tried to use the other kinetic energy equation (GMm/2r) to solve the kinetic energy of a satellite at perigee, it gave a totally different answer if I use 1/2mv^2