Escape velocity from center of earth

In summary: So, if you want to calculate the escape velocity, you need to find the difference in potential energy between the center of the Earth and infinity, and subtract that from 2sqrt(gRe). In summary, to calculate the escape velocity from the center of the Earth, you need to find the difference in potential energy between the center of the Earth and infinity, and subtract that from 2sqrt(gRe).
  • #1
Torquenstein101
11
0
How would one go about calculating the escape velocity of an object with mass m from the center of the Earth. I understand that that when launched from the surface of the Earth, mechanical energy is conserved and you end up with v escape =sqrt[2gRe] So what i did was i calculated what i thought was the velocitiy it takes to get from the center of the Earth to the surface of the Earth and then add the escape velocity from the surface of the Earth to that. I then got 2sqrt[2gRe)]. Is this right? Can someone put me on the right track?
 
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  • #2
It's the energies that add, not the velocities. Simply calculate the potential energy at the centre of the earth, referenced to infinity being at zero potential energy. You can do this by integrating the force of gravity from the centre to infinity. This integral will split into two parts: from the centre to the surface, the force is proportional to r, and from the surface to infinity, it is proportional to 1/r^2.
 
  • #3
hey thanks, so the integral would contain [(-GMem)/r]dr with limits of integration being Re and Infinity? I guess i have a hard time seeing why this would give me the escape speed from the center of the earth...Wouldnt taking the integral of the Force of gravity show how much work is being done by gravity?
 
  • #4
Torquenstein101 said:
so the integral would contain [(-GMem)/r]dr with limits of integration being Re and Infinity?
No. As krab stated you need to integrate the gravitational force from zero to infinity. Do it in steps: from center to surface, then from surface to infinity.
I guess i have a hard time seeing why this would give me the escape speed from the center of the earth...Wouldnt taking the integral of the Force of gravity show how much work is being done by gravity?
Right. That will tell you how much KE you need to overcome the work done by gravity.
 
  • #5
Ok, so my first integral would be [tex]\int (-mg) dr[/tex] with limits of integration being 0 to Re. I add this to the second integral which is [tex]\int (-GMem/r^2) dr[/tex] with limits of integration being from Re to [tex]\infty[/tex].

So, my total potential energy would be -2mgRe.
So at the Center of the Earth, the initial kinetic energy is (1/2)mv^2. So, conserving mechanical energy, i have (1/2)mv^2 = 2mgRe. Solving for v, i get 2 sqrt(gRe). Are my assumptions correct? I do notice that this value is greater than the escape velocity starting from the surface of the Earth. Does this value look correct?

Thanks a lot guys for helping me out.
 
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  • #6
No. The force is not mg in the first integral. It couldn't be. For example at the centre of the earth, the force is zero. In fact, the force is mgr/R. If you know Gauss' law, you can prove why this is so.

BTW, the tex in square brackets that closes the code is preceded by a forward slash, not a backslash.
 
  • #7
(sorry for reviving an old thread)

I don't understand how we can calculate the escape velocity from the center of the earth.

If at the center of the earth, you have 0 potential energy, then you would find that the escape velocity would be infinite, or 0, depending on the formulae used.
 
  • #8
tmc said:
If at the center of the earth, you have 0 potential energy, then you would find that the escape velocity would be infinite, or 0, depending on the formulae used.
Generally, the potential energy is taken to be zero at infinity. But that's just a reference point. What matters is the difference in potential energy between the center of the Earth and infinity, which is neither zero nor infinite.
 

What is escape velocity from center of earth?

Escape velocity from center of earth is the minimum speed an object needs to reach in order to escape the gravitational pull of the earth and enter into orbit.

How is escape velocity from center of earth calculated?

The formula for calculating escape velocity is v = √(2GM/R), where G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the earth, and R is the distance from the center of the earth to the object.

What is the value of escape velocity from center of earth?

The value of escape velocity from center of earth is approximately 11.2 kilometers per second. However, this can vary depending on the altitude and location of the object.

Can escape velocity from center of earth be achieved?

Yes, escape velocity from center of earth can be achieved by objects such as rockets and satellites that have powerful enough propulsion systems to reach the necessary speed.

Why is escape velocity from center of earth important?

Escape velocity from center of earth is important because it determines whether an object can break free from the earth's gravitational pull and enter into orbit or continue into deep space. It is also crucial for space exploration and satellite missions.

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