The escape velocity of a body on the surface of the earth is 11.2 km/s. If the earth’s mass increase to twice its present value and radius of the earth becomes half, the escape velocity becomes
The radius of Earth is approximately 6,371 kilometers, measured from the center to the surface, influencing gravity and climate.
Class 11 Physics
Gravitation
CBSE EXAM 2024-25
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Escape velocity is the minimum speed an object must reach to break free from a celestial body’s gravitational influence. For Earth, the escape velocity is approximately 11.2 km/s. This value is determined by the mass and radius of the planet. When considering changes to these parameters, the escape velocity will also change.
If the mass of the Earth doubles while the radius is halved, the implications for escape velocity are significant. A doubling of the Earth’s mass increases the gravitational force exerted on an object at its surface. Concurrently, reducing the radius decreases the distance from the center of the Earth to the surface, which also increases the gravitational force felt by an object.
As a result of these changes, the new escape velocity becomes approximately 22.4 km/s. This is double the original escape velocity. Therefore, a body must now reach this higher speed to escape Earth’s gravitational pull. This scenario highlights the relationship between mass, radius, and escape velocity, illustrating how modifications in these parameters can lead to significant changes in the energy required for an object to break free from a planet’s gravitational field.