Finding impact speed of a high altitude free fall

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the impact speed of a body in free fall from a high altitude, specifically 2 x 10^8 m, while neglecting air resistance. The user applies conservation of mechanical energy, leading to the equation v^2 = 2GM/r, where r is the sum of Earth's radius and the altitude. Initial calculations yield an impact speed of approximately 1968 m/s, but upon reconsideration of potential energy equations, the user finds a different result of 1.10 x 10^4 m/s that matches a multiple-choice option. The confusion arises from the correct interpretation of gravitational potential energy and the effective radius used in calculations. Ultimately, the user seeks confirmation on the accuracy of their final answer.
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If we neglect the effects of air resistance, the impact speed of a body of mass m released from rest at an altitude of 2 x 10^8 m above the surface of Earth (mass of Earth = M = 5.99 x 10^24 kg, radius of Earth = 6.37 x 10^6 m)

It's a multiple choice and I think I have it, but I just want to make sure because we just scraped over the surface of gravitation.

I used conservation of mechanical energy where ΔU = -GMm/r and ΔK = (1/2)mv^2
Setting them equal and opposite, m cancels and we get:

v^2 = 2GM/r, where r is the radius of Earth plus the altitude. I get that the answer is 1968 m/s. Am I doing this correct? I only ask because my answer would then be "None of these is correct" for the multiple choice.
 
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I just realized that the change in potential energy radius would be the altitude minus the radius of earth...but it still comes out to about 2000 m/s which is still not an answer.
 
I used a different equation for gravitational potential energy: U = -(Gmm/R)(R + h)^-1 where h is the altitude and R is the radius of earth, and found an answer that is in the multiple choice: 1.10 x 10^4 m/s
 
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