Rate of Change
For an elliptical orbit the rate of change of the specific orbital energy with respect to a change in the semi-major axis is
where
- is the standard gravitational parameter;
- is semi-major axis of the orbit.
In the case of circular orbits, this rate is one half of the gravity at the orbit. This corresponds to the fact that for such orbits the total energy is one half of the potential energy, because the kinetic energy is minus one half of the potential energy.
Read more about this topic: Specific Orbital Energy
Famous quotes containing the words rate of, rate and/or change:
“We all run on two clocks. One is the outside clock, which ticks away our decades and brings us ceaselessly to the dry season. The other is the inside clock, where you are your own timekeeper and determine your own chronology, your own internal weather and your own rate of living. Sometimes the inner clock runs itself out long before the outer one, and you see a dead man going through the motions of living.”
—Max Lerner (b. 1902)
“We all run on two clocks. One is the outside clock, which ticks away our decades and brings us ceaselessly to the dry season. The other is the inside clock, where you are your own timekeeper and determine your own chronology, your own internal weather and your own rate of living. Sometimes the inner clock runs itself out long before the outer one, and you see a dead man going through the motions of living.”
—Max Lerner (b. 1902)
“A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.”
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965)