In Figure two satellites, A and B, 125 kg move in the same circular orbit of radius r = 7.78 x 106 m around Earth but in opposite senses of rotation and therefore on a collision course.

(a) Find the total mechanical energy EA + EB of the two satellites + Earth system before the collision.

(b) If the collision is completely inelastic so that the wreckage remains as one piece of tangled material (mass - 2m) find the total mechanical energy immediately after the collision.

(c) Just after the collision, is the wreckage falling directly toward Earth's center or orbiting around Earth?

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Earth