Question

What is the value of escape velocity for an object on the surface of Earth ?

• A. 10.2 km/s
• B. 10.2 m/s
• C. 11.2 m/s
• D. 11.2 km/s

Answer 1

Answer:

D. 11.2 km/s

Escape velocity:

• Escape velocity is the minimum speed needed for an object to escape from the gravitational influence of earth.

• Escape speed is achieved when the object moves with a velocity at which the arithmetic sum of the object's gravitational potential energy and its Kinetic energy equates to zero.

• That is, the object should possess greater kinetic energy than the gravitational potential energy, in order to escape to infinity.

v _Escape = √(2GM/r)

Note:

• Escape velocity on the earth is 11.2 km/s.

• Escape velocity on the moon is 2.37 km/s.