Our teacher told us today, that suppose a satellite is moving around the earth in a circular orbit of radius $r$
and if suddenly a external agents stops its motion. so that its kinetic energy becomes zero but its gravitational potential energy remains same
assume (there is no air friction or drag):
and that satellite starts to fall towards earth's surface it will follow an elliptical orbit in its motion towards earth
Suppose a satellite is moving around the earth in a circular orbit of radius $r$. Suddenly an external agent stops its motion so that its kinetic energy becomes zero but its gravitational potential energy remains the same. Assume there is no air friction or drag. The satellite starts to fall towards the earth's surface and it will follow an elliptical orbit in its motion towards the earth.
pleasePlease tell me if this is correct because according to my intuition it should follow a straight line-line trajectory towards the earth.
Please help me with this. I am not very good in englishat English so pardon me for any grammatical mistakemistakes in my question.