How Much Energy is Required to Change the Orbit of a Satellite?

Here we use physics, gravitational potential energy, kinetic energy, Kepler's 3rd Law and the work energy theorem to derive the energy required to change the orbital radius of a satellite.  This is the foundation of a Hohmann transfer but we do not go so far as to calculate the impulse required at each of the two burns.

This problem comes up in college physics as well as AP physics and the JEE exam.

• #education
• #kinetic_energy
• #potential_energy
• #gravitational_potential
• #satellite_motion
• #circular_orbits
• #hohmann_transfer
• #physics
• #emgineering
• #work
• #force
• #satellite
• #orbit