Calculating Moon's Total Kinetic Energy

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To calculate the Moon's total kinetic energy from a heliocentric frame, one must consider its velocity around the Earth and the Earth's velocity around the Sun. The kinetic energy is a scalar quantity, allowing for simple algebraic addition of the two kinetic energies. The Moon's velocity around the Sun matches Earth's orbital speed, and the total kinetic energy can be calculated using the formula 1/2 Mv^2. This total kinetic energy fluctuates throughout the month, reaching its minimum at new moon and maximum at full moon. Understanding these dynamics is essential for accurate calculations of the Moon's kinetic energy.
termina
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Hello there!


Do you have any idea on how one could calculate Moon total Kinetic Energy from heliocentric frame (ie, KE around the Earth with KE around the Sun)?

is this sum of KE algebrical or vectorial?
And how much is Moon's velocity around the Sun?





Thank you
 
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The Moon's speed with respect to the Sun will be the same as Earth's orbital speed. Energy is a scalar so it would add simply, no vector addition necessary.
 
Take the velocity of the Earth around the sun and add this vectorially to the velocity of the Moon around the Earth. Put the resulting v in 1/2 Mv^2 to get the kinetic energy. The Moon's total kinetic energy will vary over the course of a month, being least at new moon and greatest at full moon.
 

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