Why does the force of gravity do no work on a satellite in circular orbit, but does do work on a satellite in?

Question

Why does the force of gravity do no work on a satellite in circular orbit, but does do work on a satellite in elliptical orbit?

Answer 1

The work is scalar product of force times displacement.
In circulae orbit the two are perpendicular and scalar product of perpendicular vectors is zero. Not so in elliptical orbit.

The work done by centrifugal force, if any, is separate story.

Answer 2

In a geo-sync orbit (around the equator), the force of gravity is counteracted by the component of centrifugal force pointing outward (pointing exactly opposite from gravity). Since these forces cancel, the satellite stays in the same position relative to Earth.

Answer 3

properly, very purely, we can see that's genuine because of fact in an elliptical orbit, velocity isn't consistent (in case you remember Kepler's rules of action, the fee would be fabulous at perigee and least at apogee), and subsequently kinetic capability (a million/2*m*v^2) isn't consistent. In a around orbit, whether, the fee of the satellite tv for pc is consistent, and no kinetic capability is imparted. in spite of this, paintings = F(dot)d = F*d*cos(theta). In a around orbit, theta is often ninety, and because cos ninety = 0, no paintings is finished. In an elliptical orbit, theta varies alongside the orbit, and in basic terms reaches ninety at 2 factors.