Figure shows the variation of energy with the orbit radius r of a a circular motion. Select the correct statement. Z is total energy, Y is kinetic energy and X is potential energy. X is kinetic energy

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Figure shows the variation of energy with the orbit radius r of a a circular motion. Select the correct statement. Z is total energy, Y is kinetic energy and X is potential energy. X is kinetic energy, Y is total energy and Z is potential energy. (C*) X is kinetic energy, Y is potential energy and Z is total energy. Z is kinetic energy, X is potential energy and Y is total energy.

TestHub · Accepted Answer

For circular orbits: K = 2 r GM m ​ (positive, decreasing with r), U = − r GM m ​ (negative, twice the magnitude), and E = − 2 r GM m ​ (negative, half the magnitude). So the positive curve is kinetic energy, the steeper negative curve is potential energy, and the shallower negative curve is the total energy: X = kinetic, Y = potential, Z = total. Ans. (C)

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