Escape Velocity
Velocity needed to
escape Earth’s gravity
from the surface: v
esc
≈
11.6 km/s.
v
esc
Now, gravitational force
decreases with distance (~
1/d
2
) => Starting out high
above the surface =>
lower escape velocity.
v
esc
v
esc
If you could compress
Earth to a smaller radius
=> higher escape velocity
from the surface.
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