How Do I Calculate the Additional Kinetic Energy Needed to Escape Earth's Orbit?

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the additional kinetic energy needed for an object to escape Earth's orbit, one must first determine the escape velocity using the given parameters: radius (r), mass of Earth (M), mass of the object (m), and gravitational constant (G). The kinetic energy (Ek) can be calculated with the formula Ek = 0.5mv^2. Since the current kinetic energy at radius r is -0.5 times the gravitational potential energy (Eg), the additional kinetic energy required for escape is found by subtracting the current kinetic energy from the escape kinetic energy. This approach confirms that the calculation is correct for determining the energy needed to leave Earth's gravitational influence.
decamij
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To calculate binding energy, all you have to do is find half of the gravitational energy (I just started grade 12 so don't prove me wrong with these crazy equations and theories - i just want to be clear on the BASICS).

Secondly, to find the additional kinetic energy required for an object to leave Earth's orbit and I am just given r, M, m, and G. What would i do?

Using "Ek" as kinetic energy and "Eg" as gravitational potential energy, i think i would have to find escape velocity and then solve for Ek using the
Ek = .5mv^2 equation. Since the current Ek at r is -0.5Eg, would i just subtract the two values to find the additional initial Ek required to allow the mass to escape orbit? If not, what am i doing wrong?
 
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decamij said:
... would i just subtract the two values to find the additional initial Ek required to allow the mass to escape orbit?
Yes, exactly.
 

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