Physics

Problem

A launch vehicle leaves Earth’s surface with a speed of

9.2\,\text{km s}^{-1}

and then ceases to fire its engines. Take

G = 6.67\times10^{-11}\,\text{N m}^2\text{kg}^{-2}

, Earth’s mass

= 6.0\times10^{24}\,\text{kg}

and Earth’s radius

= 6.4\times10^{6}\,\text{m}

. Ignore air resistance. a. (i) Determine the minimum speed required for an object to leave Earth’s gravitational field from the surface. b. (ii) Express the given speed of the launch vehicle as a percentage of the value calculated in part (i). c. (iii) State, with a brief reason, whether the vehicle will be able to escape Earth’s gravity without further propulsion.

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