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Two satellites A and B move round the earth in the same orbit. The mass of A is twice the mass of B. The quantity which is same for the two satellites will be

Asked in JEE Main 12th April 1st Shift 2023 · Energy of an orbiting satellite

Answer: (1) speed

Step-by-step solution

In the equation of circular orbit the satellite mass cancels from both sides, so the motion itself does not know the mass.

(GMm)/(r²)=(mv²)/r⇒ v=√(GM)/r, set by r only.

Every energy, however, is written with an m in it: K=(GMm)/(2r), U=-(GMm)/r, E=-(GMm)/(2r).

So in the same orbit only the speed is common to both satellites.

Why the other options are wrong

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