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What is the work done by the force of gravity on a satellite m... - Science
Question
What is the work done by the force of gravity on a satellite moving round the earth? Justify your answer.
Answer
The work done by the force of gravity on a satellite is zero.
Justification:
The gravitational force acts towards the center of the Earth (centripetal force). The displacement of the satellite at any instant is tangential to the circular orbit. Therefore, the force is perpendicular (90^\circ) to the direction of displacement. When force and displacement are perpendicular, work done is zero.
