How much velocity should a small toy rocket, weighing 10kg, acquire in order to escape the Earth's gravitational field? (Neglect any type of friction with the atmosphere)

Here, by equating the formula for the kinetic energy of the rocket to the gravitational potential energy, the student would realize after deriving the speed, that the its mass vanishes, therefore making the escape speed independent of the mass, and only dependent on known constant: universal gravitational constant, mass and radius of Earth.

v= sqrt(2GM/R)

AG
Answered by Alessandro G. Physics tutor

1963 Views

See similar Physics IB tutors

Related Physics IB answers

All answers ▸

Explain why increase in current results in higher temperature of the wire.


How do I make a free body diagram ?


Alternating current produced by the generator in a nuclear power plant is supplied to the primary coil of a transformer. Explain, with reference to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, how a current arises in the secondary coil.


Could you go through the derivation of the Doppler effect for a source moving towards an observer?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning