How much force I have to apply to throw a stone out of orbit?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter venu madhavan
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Apply Force Orbit
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of how much force is required to throw a stone out of Earth's orbit, specifically focusing on the application of force over time and the concept of escape velocity. Participants explore various scenarios, including a one-time force application versus sustained force, and the calculations involved in reaching escape velocity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant states that escape velocity is 11.2 km/s and questions the force needed to achieve this speed for a 1 kg stone.
  • Another participant suggests that any force above 10N could eventually allow the stone to escape if applied long enough, asking for more specifics about the scenario.
  • A participant inquires how long the force must be applied, emphasizing a one-time force application rather than a continuous one like a rocket.
  • One reply indicates that applying force for about 13 hours could reach escape velocity, mentioning the use of basic physics equations to calculate speed gain based on force and time.
  • Another participant requests clarification on what constitutes a "very large force," specifically in the context of using a cannon.
  • A participant introduces the concept of escape energy and provides equations relating force, distance, and energy, suggesting that the specifics of the scenario are crucial for determining the required force.
  • Repeated requests for a specific force value highlight the uncertainty and lack of consensus on the parameters needed for the calculation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the exact force required, as the discussion reveals multiple competing views and uncertainties regarding the specifics of the scenario and the calculations involved.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on various assumptions such as the duration of force application, the method of throwing (hand versus cannon), and the distance over which the force is applied, which remain unresolved.

venu madhavan
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
I know escape velocity. in order to get out of Earth's orbit the object has to maintain 11.2 km/s speed.

But If I want to throw a 1kg stone out of orbit... how much force I have to apply?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Any force above 10N can eventually get it to escape if you apply it for long enough...do you have any more specifics of the scenario you are interested in?
 
Thank you very much for reply. please tell me this also. how long I have to apply that force... consider a scenario hat I have a stone in my hand.. then How much for I have to apply ? Its Like one time force. I won't apply for long time like rocket...does any object has to maintain its 11.2km/s speed until it gets out of orbit?
 
I got the answer thank you
 
If you applied that force for about 13 hours, you'd reach escape velocity.

So I'm really not sure what you are after, but if you use a=f/m and s=at you can calculate how much speed you'll gain for a certain force over a certain time. Obviously, if you want to apply the force for a short one, you'll need a very large force (like if you want to use a cannon).
 
How much Force please tell me... how much is that very large force? consider of it is a canon tell me please
 
Escape energy for a given mass is given by ##e = \frac{mv^2}{2}## where m is the mass and v is escape velocity.

Energy imparted by a throw from your hand is given by ##e = Fd## where d is the distance covered by your hand during the throw and F is the force that you apply throughout the throw.

You know m and v. You can estimate d. Solve for F.
 
venu madhavan said:
How much Force please tell me... how much is that very large force? consider of it is a canon tell me please
We can't just tell you. It depends on the specifics of the scenario you are interested in, which you haven't told us!
 

Similar threads

Graduate Can Sci-Fi Spacecraft Achieve Stable Orbit with Plasma Technology?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
High School Help Scaling Gravity Simulation
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Undergrad Remark on centrifugal force in Heino Falcke's black hole book
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
3K
Undergrad Planetary Orbits: Force needed for circular orbit
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Undergrad Stability of circular orbits in an arbitrary central force field
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
High School How to determine applied force when two objects collide? (basic physics engine)
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Undergrad Fictional physics problem -- Firing projectiles into Earth orbit
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
High School Understanding Momentum: The Relationship Between Mass, Velocity, and Force
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
3K
Graduate Expressing Elliptic Orbitals As Speed Functions.
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School How will object's velocity change when a frictional force increases?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K