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#physics theory

2 public questions tagged with this topic.

Why does an object need a minimum speed to escape Earth’s gravity?

Escape speed (ve = 2GMR) is the minimum speed where kinetic energy equals the gravitational potential energy’s magnitude, ensuring total energy is zero, allowing escape to infinity. As per NCERT, applying relevant law/formula with correct units and sign convention leads to To balance kinetic and potential energy. This satisfies dimensional consistency and physical conditions given, so option B is scientifically correct.

Ref: Halliday & Resnick, Fundamentals of Physics, 11th ed., Chapter 13: Gravitation.