Consider two satellites `A` and `B` of equal mass, moving in the same circular orbit of radius `r` around the earth but in the opposite sense and therefore a collision occurs.
(a) Find the total mechanical energy `E_(A) + E_(B)` of the two satellite-plus-earth system before collision.
(b) If the collision is completely inelastic, find the total mechanical energy immediately after collision. Describe the subsequent motion of the combined satellite.

Answer

`[(GM_(e)m)/(r), - (2GM_(e)m)/(r )]`; the combined body falls directly down