SLIDE 79 Slide 58 (Answer) / 140
22 Assume the earth moves around the sun in a perfect circular orbit (a good approximation). Use the direction of the gravitational force between the two celestial objects and describe the work done by the sun on the earth and how that impacts the earth's orbital
- speed. Remember to consider the direction of the gravitational
force and the direction that the earth is moving. How does your answer change if you don't make the circular orbit assumption?
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Answer
The gravitational force is in a line connecting the earth and the sun, and is perpendicular to the earth's displacement at all times. The sun does no work on the earth. The earth's mechanical energy is
- conserved. Since the earth is the
same distance from the sun in its circular orbit, its potential energy is
- constant. Hence, its kinetic
energy is constant and its speed is constant. Since the earth's orbit is not a perfect circle, its velocity does change in its orbit as described in Kepler's Second Law.