Practical Applications
Given the total mass and the scalars r and v at a single point of the orbit, one can compute r and v at any other point in the orbit.
Given the total mass and the scalars r and v at a single point of the orbit, one can compute the specific orbital energy, allowing an object orbiting a larger object to be classified as having not enough energy to remain in orbit, hence being "suborbital" (a ballistic missile, for example), having enough energy to be "orbital", but without the possibility to complete a full orbit anyway because it eventually collides with the other body, or having enough energy to come from and/or go to infinity (as a meteor, for example).
Read more about this topic: Vis-viva Equation
Famous quotes containing the word practical:
“To the men of this world, to the animal strength and spirits, to the men of practical power, whilst immersed in it, the man of ideas appears out of his reason. They alone gave reason.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)