Consider a planet of mass and radius

PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Gravitation · Gravitation

Problem

Consider a planet of mass MM and radius RR. Assume only the gravitational interaction between the planet and a small mass mm. (i) Derive an expression for the speed that the mass mm must have in order to remain in a stable circular orbit of radius rr (r>Rr>R) around the planet. (ii) Derive an expression for the minimum launch speed required for the mass mm to escape completely from the planet when it starts from a distance rr from the planet’s centre. (iii) Hence, show that the escape speed obtained in part (ii) is 2\sqrt{2} times the orbital speed obtained in part (i).

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