/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Q52 P Question: The radius of the Moon... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

Question: The radius of the Moon is 1750 km, and its mass is 7×1022kg. What would be the escape speed from an isolated Moon? Why was a small rocket adequate to lift the lunar astronauts back up from the surface of the Moon?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Answer:

The escape speed is 2310 m/s.

On the Moon's surface, there is no need to reach escape velocity. At a higher altitude, they can achieve a slower escape speed.

Step by step solution

01

Given Data

The radius of the Moon isRmoon=1750km=1750×103m.

The mass is 7×1022kg7×1022kg.

02

Concept of the escape speed and velocity 

The escape speed is defined as the speed at which the object's kinetic energy plus gravitational potential energy equals zero

m12mvescape2+-GMmoonmRmoon=0

The escape velocity is

vescape=2GMmoonRmoon

.

03

Determine the escape speed

It's worth noting that the escape speed is defined as the speed at which the object's kinetic energy plus gravitational potential energy equals zero. Then turn this into an equation

vescape=2GMmoonRmoon

Now determine the velocity,

vescape=2GMmoonRmoonvescape=26.76×10-11N·m2/kg27×1022kg1750×103m=2310m/s

Reason a small rocket can lift lunar astronauts back from moon

For a small rocket, this might be a significant speed to achieve upon takeoff. However, they are able to leave the Moon because they achieve a lower escape speed at a higher altitude.

On the Moon's surface, there is no need to reach escape velocity. The third line of the equation shows that the lower the escape speed, the further away the rocket is from the Moon.

Therefore, it is easier to reach by the rocket.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

A spacecraft is coasting toward Mars. The mass of Mars is 6.4×103kg and its radius is 3400km(3.4×106m). When the spacecraft is 7000km(7×106m) from the center of Mars, the spacecraft's speed is 3000m/s . Later, when the spacecraft is (4000km4×106m from the center of Mars, what is its speed? Assume that the effects of Mar's two tiny moons, the other planets, and the Sun are negligible. Precision is required to land on Mars, so make an accurate calculation, not a rough, approximate calculation.

In the rough approximation that the density of the Earth is uniform throughout its interior, the gravitational field strength (force per unit mass) inside the Earth at a distance rfrom the centre isgrR , whereis the radius of the Earth. (In actual fact, the outer layers of rock have lower density than the inner core of molten iron.) Using the uniform-density approximation, calculate the amount of energy required to move a massfrom the centre of the Earth to the surface. Compare with the amount of energy required to move the mass from the surface of the Earth to a great distance away.

This problem is closely related to the spectacular impact of the comet Shoemaker-Levy with Jupiter in July 1994:

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/sl9/ sl9.html

A rock far outside our solar system is initially moving very slowly relative to the Sun, in the plane of Jupiter’s orbit around the Sun. The rock falls towards the Sun, but on its way to the Sun it collides with Jupiter. Calculate the rock’s speed just before colliding with Jupiter. Explain your calculation and any approximations that you make.

Msun=2×1030kg,MJuipter=2×1027kg

Distance, Sun to Jupiter =8×1011m

Radius of Jupiter1.4×108m

An object with mass 7 kgmoves from a location <22,43,-41> near the Earth's surface to location<-27,11,46>m. What is the change in the potential energy of the system consisting of the object plus the Earth?

A space probe in outer space has a mass of 111kg, and it is traveling at a speed of29m/s. When it is at location(445,535,−350)mit begins firing two booster rockets. The rockets exert constant forces of(90,150,190)Nand(90,−90,−585)N, respectively. The rockets fire until the spacecraft reaches location(449,541,−354)m. Now what is its speed? There is negligible mass loss due to the rocket exhaust.

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.