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Equation
       
    Name Escape Velocity
 
    Equation v escape = 2 GM R
 
    Definition of terms

vescape= escape velocity, G = gravitational constant, M = mass, R = radius

 
    Comments   The escape velocity is the velocity that a body would need to have in order to be free of the gravitational influence of another body of mass M and radius R .

  It is easy to consider this in terms of the conservation of energy. The kinetic energy given to the body must be greater than the value of the body's gravitational potential energy.

   Hence 1 2 m ⁢ v escape 2 = GMm R which rearranges to the above equation.

  The escape velocity of the Earth is about 11 km s−1 .

 
    References

Newtonian Mechanics, A P French, Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1971

       


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