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The kinetic energy needed to project a body of mass m from the earth surface (radius R) to infinity is

Asked in AIEEE 2002 · Escape energy

Answer: (3) mgR

Step-by-step solution

To just reach infinity the body needs enough kinetic energy to wipe out the gravitational potential energy at the surface.

That potential energy is U=-(GMm)/R, so the required K=(GMm)/R.

On the surface g=(GM)/(R²), so GM=gR².

Substituting gives K=(gR²m)/R=mgR.

Why the other options are wrong

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