The escape speed of a projectile on the earth’s surface is 11.2 km s–1. A body is projected out with thrice this speed. What is the speed of the body far away from the earth? Ignore the presence of the sun and other planets.
Escape velocity of a projectile from the Earth, vesc=11.2 km/s Projection velocity of the projectile, vp=3vesc Mass of the projectile =m Let velocity of the projectile far away from the Earth=vf Total energy of the projectile on the Earth =21mvp2−21mvesc2 Gravitational potential energy of the projectile far away from the Earth is zero. Total energy of the projectile far away from the Earth =21mvf2 From the law of conservation of energy, we have 21mvp2−21mvesc2=21mvf2 vf=vp2−vesc2 =√8vesc =√8×11.2 =31.68 km/s
