How Much Faster Will a Rock Travel If Thrown at 30 m/s From an Asteroid?

In summary, the escape velocity from a very small asteroid is 22 m/s. If a rock is thrown away from the asteroid at a speed of 30 m/s, its final speed will be higher than 22 m/s due to the excess energy it has from escaping the potential well.
  • #1
ohheytai
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The escape speed from a very small asteroid is only 22 m/s. If you throw a rock away from the asteroid at a speed of 30 m/s, what will be its final speed?

all i know is K+U = 0 i have no clue how to do this
 
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  • #2
The escape velocity is defined in such a way that if an object has that initial velocity, then its initial kinetic energy will be just enough that the object's velocity will approach zero asymptotically as its distance increases, but will never quite reach zero. In other words, the velocity will be reduced to zero "at infinity." The reason for this definition is that it ensures that the object will definitely escape (because there is no finite distance at which the object will slow to a stop and then begin falling back).

In practice, you can take "at infinity" to mean "at a sufficiently large distance away."Therefore, if the initial kinetic energy is higher than this critical value, the object will actually come away with excess speed. In other words, if the depth of the potential well is equal to 1/2 * m * (22 m/s)^2 (so that this is the amount of energy that gets "used up" in escaping), and the object actually starts out with 1/2 *m * (30 m/s)^2, then how much excess energy (beyond that needed to escape) will the object come away with? Therefore, how much extra speed?
 

What is the Final Speed?

The final speed refers to the velocity of an object at the end of a given period of time or at the end of its motion.

How is Final Speed calculated?

Final speed can be calculated by dividing the total distance traveled by the time it took to cover that distance. It can also be calculated by using the formula: final speed = initial speed + acceleration x time.

What is the difference between Final Speed and Average Speed?

Final speed is the velocity of an object at a specific moment in time, while average speed is the total distance traveled divided by the total time taken. Average speed takes into account the entire journey, while final speed only looks at the end result.

Why is Final Speed important in physics?

Final speed is important in physics because it helps determine the overall motion of an object. It is used to calculate other parameters such as acceleration, displacement, and time, which are crucial in understanding the behavior of objects in motion.

What factors can affect the Final Speed of an object?

The final speed of an object can be affected by various factors such as initial speed, acceleration, friction, air resistance, and external forces acting on the object. The mass and shape of the object can also play a role in determining its final speed.

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