COSMOS: Complete Online Solutions Manual Organization System

Chapter 11, Solution 31.

dv gR 2
The acceleration is given by v =a=− 2
dr r

gR 2dr
Then, v dv = −
r2

Integrating, using the conditions v = 0 at r = ∞, and v = vesc at r = R

0 2 ∞ dr
∫ vesc v dv = − gR ∫ R r 2

0 ∞
1 2 ⎛1⎞
v = gR 2 ⎜ ⎟
2 vesc ⎝r⎠ R

1 2 ⎛ 1⎞
0− vesc = gR 2 ⎜ 0 − ⎟
2 ⎝ R⎠

vesc = 2 gR

Now, R = 3960 mi = 20.909 × 106 ft and g = 32.2 ft/s2 .

Then, vesc = ( 2 )( 32.2 ) ( 20.909 × 106 ) vesc = 36.7 × 103 ft/s W

Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics and Dynamics, 8/e, Ferdinand P. Beer, E. Russell Johnston, Jr.,
Elliot R. Eisenberg, William E. Clausen, David Mazurek, Phillip J. Cornwell
© 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies.