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How much energy will be released?
A meteor of mass about 8.4E12 kg is heading for Jupiter. When it hits there will be a huge release of energy. Assuming it fell from far away and started with zero velocity, how much energy will be released when it hits Jupiter? The radius of Jupiter is about 7E7 m and its mass is 1.9E27 kg. G = 6.67E-11 nm^2/kg^2.... I don't see why I don't just use U = -GMm/r. Won't all of this potential energy be turned into kinetic energy? The answer is not one of the choices.
1 Answer
- OldPilotLv 78 years agoFavorite Answer
The "It started from far away with 0 velocity." Tells you that when it reaches Jupiter it will be moving at the Escape Velocity for Jupiter;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_velocity
v = sq rt (2GM/r) = sq rt ((2 * 6.67 * 10^-11 * 1.9 *10^27/ (7 * 10*7))
v = sq rt(16.47 * 10^16 / 7 * 10^7)
V = sq rt (2.35 * 10^9) ===> sq rt (23.5 * 10^8) = 4.85 *10^4 m/s
V = 48,511 m/s (this disagrees with the chart on the above web site, so you should check my math. But, it is close so your teacher's values may be a little off)
KE = 0.5 MV^2 = 0.5 * 8.4 *10^12 * 2.35 *10^9 = 9.87 * 10^21 J
