Very far from earth (at R=∞), a spacecraft has run out of fuel and its kinetic energy is zero. If only the gravitational force of the earth were to act on it (i.e., neglect the forces from the sun and other solar system objects), the spacecraft would eventually crash into the earth. The mass of the earth is Me and its radius is Re. Neglect air resistance throughout this problem, since the spacecraft is primarily moving through the near vacuum of space. Find the speed se of the spacecraft when it crashes into the earth. Express the speed in terms of Me, Re, and the universal gravitational constant G. Use a conservation-law approach. Specifically, consider the mechanical energy of the spacecraft when it is (a) very far from the earth and (b) at the surface of the earth.
Very far from earth (at R=∞), a spacecraft has run out of fuel and its kinetic energy is zero. If only the gravitational force of the earth were to act on it (i.e., neglect the forces from the sun and other solar system objects), the spacecraft would eventually crash into the earth. The mass of the earth is Me and its radius is Re. Neglect air resistance throughout this problem, since the spacecraft is primarily moving through the near vacuum of space. Find the speed se of the spacecraft when it crashes into the earth. Express the speed in terms of Me, Re, and the universal gravitational constant G. Use a conservation-law approach. Specifically, consider the mechanical energy of the spacecraft when it is (a) very far from the earth and (b) at the surface of the earth.
Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems
5th Edition
ISBN:9780534408961
Author:Stephen T. Thornton, Jerry B. Marion
Publisher:Stephen T. Thornton, Jerry B. Marion
Chapter7: Hamilton's Principle-lagrangian And Hamiltonian Dynamics
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 7.11P
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Very far from earth (at R=∞), a spacecraft has run out of fuel and its kinetic energy is zero. If only the gravitational force of the earth were to act on it (i.e., neglect the forces from the sun and other solar system objects), the spacecraft would eventually crash into the earth. The mass of the earth is Me and its radius is Re. Neglect air resistance throughout this problem, since the spacecraft is primarily moving through the near vacuum of space.
Find the speed se of the spacecraft when it crashes into the earth.
Express the speed in terms of Me, Re, and the universal gravitational constant G. Use a conservation-law approach. Specifically, consider the mechanical energy of the spacecraft when it is (a) very far from the earth and (b) at the surface of the earth.
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