Answer: Increases.
- A Decreases
- B Increases
- C Stays same
- D Oscillates
Correct answer: B. Increases
Explanation: When energy decreases, satellite moves to lower orbit (smaller r). Since v = sqrt(GM/r), smaller r means higher speed. Paradoxically, losing energy makes it speed up.
g is maximum at Earth's surface; going up, it falls off as 1/r² (inverse-square); going down, it falls off linearly with depth (since only the mass enclosed within radius r contributes), reaching zero at the centre.
Concept context
Universal gravitation, orbital mechanics, gravitational potential, and escape velocity.