Force and Potential Energy in Gravitational Fields – Practice

Questions:

1) Calculate the gravitational potential energy of Jupiter as it orbits the Sun given the following information:

Mass of Jupiter = 1.90 × 1027 kg

Mass of the Sun = 1.99 × 1030 kg

Jupiter–Sun distance = 7.78 × 1011 m

2) Determine the escape velocity of the Moon, given that its mass is 7.35 × 1022 kg and its radius is 1737 km:

3) The escape velocity of Venus is 10360 m/s. Determine its radius if it has a mass of 4.87 × 1024 kg:

4) How would the value of the escape velocity change if the mass of the Earth was 3 times its actual mass. Justify your response algebraically.

 

 

Quick Answers:

1) −3.24 × 1035 J

2) 2376 m/s  (8553 km/hr)

3) 6052924.8 m (6053 km)

4) 1.73 times the normal escape velocity

Worked Answers: