8.17 A rocket is fired vertically with a speed of 5 km s-1 from the earth’s surface. How far from the earth does the rocket go before returning to the earth? Mass of the earth = 6.0 × 1024 kg; mean radius of the earth = 6.4 × 106 m; G = 6.67 × 10–11 N m2 kg–2.
Total energy=Potential energy+Kinetic energy
=(-GmMeRe)+12mv2
At highest point velocity=0
So, total energy of rocket=(-GmMeRe)+0
Applying conservation of enrgy,
Total energy initially (at earth's surface)=Total energy at height h
⇒ (-GmMeRe)+12mv2=(-GmMeRe)
⇒ 12v2=gRehRe+h
⇒ h=Rev22gRe-v2
⇒ h=6.4×106×(5×103)22×9.8×6.4×106-(5×103)2=1.6×106 m
Thus the height achieved by the rocket from earth's centre=Re+h
=6.4×106+1.6×106
=8×106 m
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