Undergrad Energy needed to launch a spaceship into Space

[IsakVern]

A given planet has a mass, M = 6.42*10^23 kg,
and radius, R = 3.39 * 10^6 m.

The gravitational konstant is G = 6.67*10^-11

A spaceship with mass m = 4000 kg is launched from the planets surface.

How much energy is needed to send the spaceship to a height h = 100 km above the planets surface?

 

[Buzz Bloom]

Hi Isak:

There are several ways to approach this problem. One way is to calculate the potential energy of the spaceship at the height of 100 km. That is the amount of energy that has to be added to get the spaceship to that height.

First, the problem statement is a bit unclear. What is the assumed state of the spaceship when it reaches a height of 100 km. Here are two possibilities:

a) the spaceship is in orbit around the planet.
b) the spaceship has zero velocity and will begin its fall back to earth.​

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Buzz

 

[IsakVern]

The assumed state of the spaceship is that it has zero velocity when it reaches 100 km.

 

[Buzz Bloom]

The assumed state of the spaceship is that it has zero velocity when it reaches 100 km.

Hi Isak:

In that case I suggest you calculate the potential energy. You might find the following of some use. See the formula in the second box.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/gpot.html​

You may find the minus sign puzzling. If so, see what your textbook says about potential energy.

Regards,
Buzz

 

[berkeman]

A given planet has a mass, M = 6.42*10^23 kg,
and radius, R = 3.39 * 10^6 m.

The gravitational konstant is G = 6.67*10^-11

A spaceship with mass m = 4000 kg is launched from the planets surface.

How much energy is needed to send the spaceship to a height h = 100 km above the planets surface?

Thread is locked.

@IsakVern -- All schoolwork problems go in the Homework Help forums, and you are required to show your work before we can offer tutorial help. Please re-post in the Homework Help, Introductory Physics forum, and fill out the Homework Help Template you are provided there. This includes sections on the Relevant Equations and your Attempt at a Solution.

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