Approximately means close to a particular value or quantity but not exactly, often used to express an estimate or rounding.
Class 11 Physics
Gravitation
CBSE EXAM 2024-25
Share
Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email.
The escape velocity of a projectile from Earth is approximately 11.2 kilometers per second. This is the minimum speed that has to be achieved for an object so that it may leave the gravitational influence of Earth and enter into space without further propulsion. At this speed, the projectile can break free from the gravitational influence of the planet.
The relevance of this concept is crucial especially in the fields of astronomy and space exploration. Therefore, it determines whether there can be a launch satellite and spacecraft. For example, a rocket must obtain such escape velocity to gain orbit or travel beyond the atmosphere of Earth. Unless this speed is achieved, it will eventually fall on the Earth due to gravity attraction.
Its actual influencing factors are the mass of the Earth and the planet’s radius. Although this escape velocity is constant in a range of about 11.2 kilometers per second, it varies when it comes to other celestial bodies. For example, the escape velocity from the Moon is much lower simply because of its smaller size and radius. Escape velocity understanding is very imperative to plan a mission from the Earth to space with some given velocity and compute energy requirements for launching satellites.