Physics 2014 JAMB Past Questions - Question 8: Calculate the escape velocity of a satelite launched from the earths surface if the radius of the earth is 6.4x10m

Correct Answer

C

Explanation

To calculate the escape velocity of a satellite launched from the Earth's surface, we can use the formula:

Escape Velocity = √(2 * gravitational constant * mass of the Earth / radius of the Earth)

The gravitational constant is approximately 6.67430 × 10¹¹ m³/(kg·s²), and the mass of the Earth is approximately 5.972 × 10² kg.

Plugging in these values, we can calculate the escape velocity:

Escape Velocity = √(2 * 6.67430 × 10¹¹ m³/(kg·s²) * 5.972 × 10²kg / (6.4 × 10m))

Escape Velocity ≈ √(2 * 6.67430 × 10¹¹ * 5.972 × 10² / 6.4 × 10) m/s

Escape Velocity ≈ √(2 * 6.67430 × 5.972 / 6.4) × 10m/s

Escape Velocity ≈ √(8.014 × 10) m/s

Escape Velocity ≈ 8.95 × 10³ m/s

Therefore, the escape velocity of a satellite launched from the Earth's surface is approximately 8.95 km/s.