Purchase Solution

Gravitation: Spacecraft launch speed to escape from the solar system altogether

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

A spacecraft is to be launched from the surface of the earth so that it will escape from the SOLAR SYSTEM altogether.

a) Find the speed relative to the center of the earth with which the spacecraft must be launched. Take into consideration the gravitational effects of both the earth and the sun, and include the effect of the effects of the earth's orbital speed, but ignore air resistance.

b) The rotation of the earth can help this spacecraft achieve escape speed. Find the speed that the spacecraft must have relative to the earth's SURFACE if the spacecraft is launched from Florida at the point shown on the figure. The figure shows the sun, and at its right on a circular orbit there is the earth and California is at the left of the earth. The direction of speed is counter clockwise, such that the velocity at point "California" is vertical, (upwards on the drawing).

The rotation and orbitals motions of the earth are in the same direction. The launch facilities in Florida is 28.5° noth of the equator.

c) The European Space Agency (ESA) uses launch facilities in French Guiana (immediately north of Brazil), 5.15° north of the equator.
What speed relative to the earth's surface would a spacecraft need to escape the solar sytem if launched from French Guiana?

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

With good explanations, formulas and a graph, the problems are explained and answered.

Solution Preview

See attached MS Word file. I'm also including scans of the print out, ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Variables in Science Experiments

How well do you understand variables? Test your knowledge of independent (manipulated), dependent (responding), and controlled variables with this 10 question quiz.

Basic Physics

This quiz will test your knowledge about basic Physics.

Classical Mechanics

This quiz is designed to test and improve your knowledge on Classical Mechanics.

The Moon

Test your knowledge of moon phases and movement.

Introduction to Nanotechnology/Nanomaterials

This quiz is for any area of science. Test yourself to see what knowledge of nanotechnology you have. This content will also make you familiar with basic concepts of nanotechnology.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Energy of a Spacecraft (Energy; Gravitational Force; Speed)

    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.

  • Newton's Gravity and Escape Velocity

    207649 Newton's Gravity and Escape Velocity 1. How would you describe the "use of Newton's gravity to hold the solar system together" to an elementary school child?

  • the spacecraft's speed before it hits the Earth

    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 M_e and its radius is R_e.

  • Conservation of energy

    8. 40 A rocket is projected upward from the earth's surface (r=Re) WITH AN INITIAL SPEED Vo that carries it to a distance r=1.5Re from the center of the earth. What is the launch speed Vo?

  • Speed of a spacecraft as a function of the distance to Earth

    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 M_e and its radius is R_e.

  • Identifying the Hypothesis Statement

    Solar system exploration Luna 9, the first spacecraft to soft-land on the Moon. It was launched by the Soviet Union January ...

  • Find Gravity Field of a Planet and Orbital Speed of a Spacecraft

    The gravitational force exerted by a planet of mass M, on the spacecraft of mass m, by Newton's gravitation law, is: (4) F= G M m /r^2.

  • Masses in Equilateral Triangle and Net Forces Exerted

    ANSWER: = Answer not displayed Part B Find the speed needed to escape from its surface. (Note: It is easy for a person to jump upward with a speed of 3 .) Express your answer using two significant figures.

  • Mass of Solar System, Quadratic Formula and Complex Number

    The first picture shows a solar flare erupting from the Suns surface, the second shows a total eclipse of the sun by the moon allowing the solar corona to be viewed, the third shows a picture obtained by the SOHO spacecraft it shows the solar corona and

View More Related Solutions