1. What is Orbital Energy?

Definition: Orbital energy is the total energy of an object in orbit around a larger body, combining its kinetic and potential energy.

Purpose: It helps scientists understand how objects move in space and how much energy is needed to change orbits.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( E \) — Orbital energy (Joules)
• \( G \) — Gravitational constant (6.674×10⁻¹¹ m³/kg·s²)
• \( M \) — Mass of central body (kg)
• \( m \) — Mass of orbiting body (kg)
• \( a \) — Semi-major axis (m)

Explanation: The negative sign means the orbiting body is gravitationally bound to the central body.

3. Importance of Orbital Energy

Details: Understanding orbital energy helps in space missions, satellite deployment, and studying planetary systems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the masses of both bodies in kilograms and the semi-major axis in meters. For Earth, mass ≈ 5.97×10²⁴ kg. For Moon, mass ≈ 7.34×10²² kg.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is orbital energy negative?
A: Negative energy means the objects are gravitationally bound together. Zero would mean barely unbound, and positive would mean not orbiting.

Q2: What's the gravitational constant?
A: It's a fundamental constant of nature (6.674×10⁻¹¹ m³/kg·s²) that determines the strength of gravity.

Q3: What is semi-major axis?
A: It's half the longest diameter of an elliptical orbit. For circular orbits, it's just the radius.

Q4: Can I calculate Earth's orbital energy around the Sun?
A: Yes! Use Sun's mass (1.99×10³⁰ kg), Earth's mass, and Earth's semi-major axis (1.496×10¹¹ m).

Q5: Why is this important for kids to learn?
A: It introduces fundamental physics concepts in a fun, space-related way that can inspire future scientists!