Question

A certain spherical asteroid has a mass of 7.2 × 1016 kg and a radius of 8.8 km. what is the minimum speed needed to escape from the surface of this asteroid?

Answer 1

Answer:

v = 0.352 m/s

Explanation:

To calculate escape velocity,

( P.E. + K.E ) at the surface of the asteroid = ( P.E. + K.E ) at the infinity

Here infinity is refered as the point wjich does not feel the gravitational potential of the asteroid,

For minimum velocity the K.E at infinity = 0

-GMm/r² + $\frac{1}{2}mv²$ = 0 + 0

                                                  v² =  2GM/r² = 2 × 6.674×10⁻¹¹×7.2×10¹⁶/(8800)²

v = 0.352 m/s