Potential Energy Of Satellite

What is a satellite?

When thinking about what a satellite is, let us inform you that a satellite is an object in space that orbits or revolves around a more significant object like a planet. Usually, there are two types of satellites: natural satellites and artificial satellites. 

Natural satellites are natural objects like the moon or planets in space revolving around more oversized objects. For example, the moon can be called the satellite of the planet earth as the moon orbits the earth in space. 

When it comes to artificial satellites, these are the man-made machines that are launched into space and revolve around the earth, earth or any other body present in space.

What are the components of the artificial satellite?

Now that you know what satellite is, it’s time to have in-depth knowledge about artificial satellites by learning about their components:

• Antennas: The primary function of the antenna system in the satellites is to receive and transmit signals to and from the earth.

• Command and Data Handling: The command and control system is considered the heart of a satellite as it monitors each aspect of the same and receives commands from the earth for operation.

• Guidance and Stabilisation: It is the sensors that monitor the position of a satellite to make sure that it remains in the correct orbit and is oriented towards the right target. 

• Housing: The satellite is constructed using strong materials to withstand the harsh environment of the space.

• Power: Almost every satellite depends on the solar array to convert sunlight into energy.

• Thermal Control: The thermal control system protects the satellite equipment against the extreme changes in temperature in space.

• Transponders: The uplink and downlink signals are received and departed using different frequencies. The transponders convert the uplink frequencies to the downlink frequencies, and then the converted transmission is amplified for sending to the earth.

Concept of the Potential Energy of Satellite

Satellites are launched from the earth so that they can revolve around it. An accurate time is chosen for launching the satellites to establish the same in the desired orbit. The satellite orbits the bigger body either in a circular or elliptical manner. The satellite revolves around the planet earth in a circular motion at a constant speed and fixed height. It also moves with a tangible velocity allowing it to fall at a rate similar to which the earth curves. Throughout the trajectory, the gravitational force acts in the direction perpendicular to the direction of motion of the satellites.

The energy required by the satellites to orbit around the earth is referred to as its orbiting energy. Now that the satellites revolve around the planet earth, these have kinetic energy, and these are in the gravitational field, so these also have potential energy. 

According to the work-energy theorem, the final total mechanical energy is the sum of the initial total mechanical energy of the system and the work done by any external force.

Mathematically it can be represented as

KEi + PEi + Wext = KEf + PEf .

The gravitational force is the only external factor for the satellites, and since gravity is considered a conservative force, the term West is zero.

The equation can be simply written as

KEi + PEi = KEf + PEf

In other words, it can be said that the sum of the kinetic energy and the potential energy of the system is constant. In contrast, the energy is transformed between both kinetic and potential energy. 

Expression for Potential Energy of Satellite

Let’s take mass as m at distance r1 and distance r2 from the earth’s centre. Here, the satellite will move radially from the distance r1 distance r2, and then it will be moving along the circle until it reaches the final position. 

The force F is opposite to the direction the satellite travels along with the distance dr during the entire radial portion.

The force F is perpendicular to the distance dr along the arc. Therefore, it can be said that F.dr is equal to zero. In other words, no work is done while moving along the arc.

Now, if the expression for gravitational force is used and the values for along with the two segments of the path are noted, the following equation can be obtained:

ΔU=−∫∫r2r1F.dr=GMm∫r1r2dr

= GMm (1 / r1 – 1 / r2)

Now that ΔU = U2 – U1, the expression for U can be found, i.e.

U = – GMm / R

Conclusion

Satellites are both natural and artificial objects revolving around the planets in space. The main reason why these satellites are launched into space is to procure information about the particular planet. In this article, one will get to know all about the satellite along with its potential energy.