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Question 30733
JEE Physics · Hard

Gravitation: Gravitational PE Change MCQ

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Gravitational PE ChangeHardQuestion 30733

Question

Energy needed to raise a satellite of mass m from Earth's surface to height R (equal to Earth's radius R, g = 10, R = 6.4×10⁶ m) is:
  1. A
    mgR
  2. B
    mgR/2
    Correct
  3. C
    2mgR
  4. D
    mgR/4

Correct answer

mgR/2

Explanation

ΔPE = −GMm/(R+R) − (−GMm/R) = GMm/R − GMm/2R = GMm/2R = mgR/2. (Using GM = gR².)

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