The velocity with which a projectile, must be fired so that it escapes earth’s gravitation does not depend on
A projectile is an object launched into motion, influenced only by initial velocity and gravity, following a curved trajectory.
Class 11 Physics
Gravitation
CBSE EXAM 2024-25
Share
Escape velocity is the minimum speed required for an object to break free from the gravitational pull of a celestial body, such as a planet or a moon, without any further propulsion. Interestingly, the escape velocity does not depend on the mass of the object attempting to escape, whether it is a tiny particle, a large satellite, or a spacecraft.
This independence arises because both the gravitational force acting on the object and the energy needed to overcome this force are proportional to the object’s mass. In the calculation of escape velocity, the mass of the object cancels out, leaving the result dependent only on the properties of the celestial body, such as its mass and radius, and the universal gravitational constant.
For example, on Earth, the escape velocity is approximately 11.2 km/s at the surface. This value remains the same regardless of the object’s size or weight. Whether a pebble or a rocket is launched, both require the same speed to overcome Earth’s gravity and enter space.
This principle simplifies the understanding of escape velocity, highlighting that it is a universal characteristic of the celestial body in question, unaffected by the properties of the escaping object itself.