Page 114 - text book form physics kssm 2020

Benefi ts and Implications of Escape Velocity

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High escape velocity of the Earth, that is 11 200 m s
has benefi ts and implications on humans. One of the
benefi ts is the Earth is able to maintain a layer of
atmosphere around it. Molecules in the atmosphere
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move at average linear speed of 500 m s , that is lower
than the escape velocity from the Earth. As such, air
molecules that are moving randomly will not be able
to escape from the Earth into outer space.

Figure 3.39igure 3.39 Earth’s atmosphere Earth’s atmosphere
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High escape velocity of the Earth also enables
commercial aircraft s or fi ghter jets to fl y to high
levels in the atmosphere without the possibility of
escaping into outer space. Commercial aircraft s can
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fl y at linear speed of 250 m s while fi ghter jets can
achieve supersonic linear speed of up to 2 200 m s .
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Both their linear speeds are lower than the escape
velocity from the Earth.

Photograph 3.1hotograph 3.1 Commercial aircraft Commercial aircraft
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Th e launching of rockets requires large quantities of
fuel to produce high thrust that enables the rocket
to achieve escape velocity of the Earth. Hence, it can
send the spacecraft into outer space.

Photograph 3.2hotograph 3.2 Rocket launching Rocket launching
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