What is the minimum energy that is required to take a stationary satellite...

Question

What minimum energy is required to take a stationary 600 kg satellite from the surface of the moon to an altitude of 9.2x10^5 and put it into an orbit with an orbital speed of 1.36x10^3 m/s?

 

The thing that I'm really confused about it the calculation for potential energy

Answer 1

Use the law of conservation of energy.

Potential energy at surface + minimum required energy = Potential Energy at new height + Kinetic energy

 

-GMm/r  + E = -GMm/R + 0.5 mv²

 

r = radius of moon,

R = 9.2 x 10⁵ m

 

Substitute the values for the other symbols, and solve for E.