Calculate the gravitational potential energy of a rocket

Thread starter Moerangi
Start date Oct 22, 2006
Tags

Energy Gravitational Gravitational potential Gravitational potential energy Potential Potential energy Rocket

AI Thread Summary

To calculate the gravitational potential energy of a rocket 500 km above Earth's surface with a mass of 500 kg, the formula U_g = -G(m_1m_2/r) is used, where G is the gravitational constant, m_1 is the mass of the Earth, m_2 is the mass of the rocket, and r is the distance from the center of the Earth to the rocket. The distance r is the sum of Earth's radius (approximately 6,371 km) and the altitude of the rocket (500 km), totaling about 6,871 km. Substituting the values into the formula allows for the calculation of the gravitational potential energy. This approach accounts for the significant distance from the Earth's surface. Understanding this formula is crucial for accurate energy calculations in rocketry.

Oct 22, 2006

Moerangi

Hi,

I need to calculate the gravitational potential energy of a rocket that's 500km above the surface of Earth (rocket has a mass of 500kg).

What formula would I use, and how would I calculate it?

Any help is appreciated,
Thanks.

Last edited: Oct 22, 2006

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Oct 22, 2006

BishopUser

Gravitational potential energy is typically represented by U_g=-G\frac {m_1m_2} {r} when things are high above the Earth's surface.

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