Question

A projectile is fired straight upward from the Earth's surface at the South Pole with an initial speed equal to one third the escape speed. (The radius of the Earth is 6.38 106 m.) (a) Ignoring air resistance, determine how far from the center of the Earth the projectile travels before stopping momentarily. m (b) What is the altitude of the projectile at this instant? m

Answer 1

given :

radius of earth = R =

mass of earth = M =

escape speed on earth's surface =

projection speed = v = .

As the projection speed is less than escape speed, it reaches to a certain height where speed is zero.

let, height reached is H from the surface. and mass of projectile is m.

therefore, applying conservation of mechanical energy :

[answer].

The distance of the point from center of earth when the projectile stops momentarily = R + H = [answer]