The radius of Venus (from the center to just above the atmosphere) is 6050 km (6050✕103 m), and its mass is 4.9✕1024 kg. An obje
ct is launched straight up from just above the atmosphere of Venus. (a) What initial speed is needed so that when the object is far from Venus its final speed is 8000 m/s? vinitial = m/s (b) What initial speed is needed so that when the object is far from Venus its final speed is 0 m/s? (This is called the "escape speed.") vescape = m/s
This problem involves the application of newtons laws of gravitation. The forces in action here are conservative and as a result mechanical energy is conserved.
The full calculation can be found in the attachment below.
Explanation:
In both parts (a) and (b) the energy conservation equation were used. Assumption was made that when the object is very far from the planet the distance from the planet's center approaches infinity and the gravitational potential energy approaches zero.
Since the car speeds up at a constant rate, we can use the kinematic equation for distance (assuming that the initial position is x=0, and choosing t₀ =0), as follows:
Since the car starts from rest, v₀ =0.
We know the value of t = 5 sec., but we need to find the value of a.
Applying the definition of acceleration, as the rate of change of velocity with respect to time, and remembering that v₀ = 0 and t₀ =0, we can solve for a, as follows:
Replacing a and t in (1):
Now, if the truck slows down at a constant rate also, we can use (1) again, noting that v₀ is not equal to zero anymore.
Since we have the values of vf (it's zero because the truck stops), v₀, and t, we can find the new value of a, as follows:
Replacing v₀, at and t in (1), we have:
Therefore, as the truck travels twice as far as the car, the right answer is a).