Average potential energy via average kinetic energy

The average potential energy of an orbiting planet is directly proportional to its average kinetic energy. The average of both energies is taken w.r.t. time.

Conditions:

1. Works for elliptical orbits, in which case the total energy \(E\) of the planet is negative.

Links:

1. Physics LibreTexts. Energy in Circular Orbits.

average_potential_energy

The potential_energy of the planet averaged over time.

Symbol:

avg(U)

Latex:

\(\langle U \rangle\)

Dimension:

energy

average_kinetic_energy

The kinetic_energy of the planet averaged over time.

Symbol:

avg(K)

Latex:

\(\langle K \rangle\)

Dimension:

energy

law

avg(U) = -2 * avg(K)

Latex:

\[\langle U \rangle = - 2 \langle K \rangle\]