Question:
Explain what happens when a body is raised to a height from the surface of earth and then given a
horizontal velocity v such that (i) 0 < v < 8.0 km s–1 (ii) v = 8.0 km s–1 (iii) 8.0 < v < 11.2 km s–1
(iv) v = 11.2 km s–1
Answer:
Significant speed values:
a) 8.0 km/s (circular velocity, first cosmic velocity) is a minimum speed required to orbit around the Earth;
b) 11.2 km/s (escape velocity, second cosmic velocity) is a minimum speed required to overcome Earth gravity and escape to interplanetary space.
Thus, in specified cases:
i) 0 < v < 8.0 km/s
- the body will fall back to Earth
ii) v = 8.0 km/s
- the body will orbit around the Earth
iii) 8.0 < v < 11.2 km/s
- the body will orbit around the Earth, with different orbit radius
iv) v = 11.2 km/s
- the body will escape Earth gravity and travel to interplanetary space
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