An 8000 kg satellite is launched from the surface of the Earth, and injected into a circular orbit at an altitude of 100 km above the surface of the Earth. If U = 0 at the Earth\'s surface, the gravitational potential energy of the satellite in the circular orbit is (G = 6.67 × 10 -11 Nm 2 /kg 2 , Me = 5.98 × 10 24 kg, Re = 6.38 × 10 6 m) 4.92 × 10 9 J. 3.85 × 10 9 J. 5.01 × 10 9 J. 7.72 × 10 9 J. 4.02 × 10 9 J. Solution Potential energy = GMm/R - GMm/r = 6.67e-11*5.98e24*8000*(1/6.38e6 - 1/(6.38e6+100000)) = 7.72*10^9 J answer .