-GMm/2r is the total energy of the mass m if it is in a circular orbit about mass M.
Given
A particle of mass m moving under the influence of a fixed mass's M, gravitational potential energy of formula -GMm/r, where r is the separation between the masses and G is the gravitational constant of the universe.
As the Gravity Potential energy of particle = -GMm/r
Total energy of particle = Kinetic energy + Potential Energy
As we know that
Kinetic energy = 1/2mv²
Also, v is equals to square root of GM/r
v = √GM/r
Put the value of v in the formula of kinetic energy
We get,
Kinetic Energy = GMm/2r
Total Energy = GMm/2r + (-GMm/r)
= GMm/2r - GMm/r
= -GMm/2r
Hence, -GMm/2r is the total energy of the mass m if it is in a circular orbit about mass M.
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