Escape Velocity

Topic Content:

Escape velocity can be defined as the minimum velocity value that an object should acquire to be launched into space so that it overcomes the gravitational forceThe force of gravity, or gravitational force, pulls objects with mass toward each other. More of Earth or any other planet.

or

Escape velocity is the minimum velocity required by a body to be projected to overcome the gravitational pull of the Earth.

If a body is projected upward, it moves against the gravitational influence of the earth. The maximum height attained depends on the velocity of projection of the body, with enough velocity it can escape the earth’s gravitational attraction.

Consider a rocket of mass ‘m’ launched with an initial velocity from the earth’s surface that escapes from the Earth’s gravitational influence.

To calculate the escape velocity we need to use the law of conservation of energyEnergy is the ability to do work. Energy exists in several forms such as heat, kinetic or mechanical energy, light, potential energy, and electrical energy. Units of Energy: The SI unit... More, i.e the initial total energy (E_i ) must be equal to the total final energy (E_f ).

E_i = E_f

The two types of energy we are going to be incorporating are kinetic and potential energy before and kinetic and potential energy after. that is:

K.E_i + P.E_i = K.E_f + P.E_f

Gravitational Potential Energy (G.P.E) = \( \: – \frac{GMm}{r}\)

K.E