JEE MAIN - Physics (2020 - 8th January Evening Slot - No. 21)

An asteroid is moving directly towards the centre of the earth. When at a distance of 10R (R is the radius of the earth) from the earths centre, it has a speed of 12 km/s. Neglecting the effect of earths atmosphere, what will be the speed of the asteroid when it hits the surface of the earth (escape velocity from the earth is 11.2 km/s) ? Give your answer to the nearest integer in kilometer/s _____.
Answer
16

Explanation

U1 + K1 = U2 + K2

$$ \Rightarrow $$ $$ - {{GMm} \over {10R}} + {1 \over 2}mV_1^2$$ = $$ - {{GMm} \over R} + {1 \over 2}mV_2^2$$

$$ \Rightarrow $$ $${1 \over 2}V_2^2 = {1 \over 2}V_1^2 + {{GM} \over R} - {{GM} \over {10R}}$$

$$ \Rightarrow $$ $$V_2^2 = V_1^2 + {9 \over 5}{{GM} \over R}$$ ....(1)

Given escape velocity Ve = 11.2 km/s

$$ \Rightarrow $$ $$\sqrt {{{2GM} \over R}} $$ = 11.2

$$ \Rightarrow $$ $${{{GM} \over R} = {{{{\left( {11.2} \right)}^2}} \over 2}}$$

So from (1)

$$V_2^2 = V_1^2 + {9 \over 5}$$$${ \times {{{{\left( {11.2} \right)}^2}} \over 2}}$$

= $${\left( {12} \right)^2}$$ + 112.896

$$ \Rightarrow $$ V2 = 16 km/s

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