View Full Version : Gravitational Field question
MiniTank
May25-05, 10:24 PM
I am having some difficulty with this question:
A satellite is in orbit around Earth at an altitude of 3700 km. How much must its speed increase, in km/h, to escape the Earth's force of gravity?
I'm stumped. Please help
Whats Earth's escape velocity?
What velocity is it orbitting at if its at that altitude?
MiniTank
May25-05, 10:33 PM
Earth's escape velocity = 1.12 x 10^4 m/s
and the velocity at that altitude is what im having tourble with
Find the gravitational potential energy at that altitude. What doy ou know about the satelite's KE if it remains at that point?
MiniTank
May25-05, 10:42 PM
i think i get what your saying ..
Ek = 1/2 |Eg|
\frac{1}{2}mv^2 = \frac{1}{2}\frac{GMm}{r}
v=\sqrt{\frac{GM}{r}}
after i find that .. do i subtract that velocity from the escape velocity of earth?
Fix your tex tags, slash them the other way, /tex
You've got all youj need to solve the problem.
MiniTank
May25-05, 10:58 PM
alright thanks ... appreciate it
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