The escape velocity for a projectile on the Earth's surface is 11.2 km/s. If a body is projected at twice this velocity, what happens?
A. It escapes Earth's gravity and retains a finite positive velocity in interstellar space.
B. It orbits the Earth indefinitely.
C. It returns to Earth after a long time.
D. It escapes Earth's gravity but eventually comes to rest in deep space.
Answer: Option A
Solution (By JKSSB Mock Tests)
Escape velocity (Ve) is the minimum velocity needed to overcome Earth's gravitational pull so that final velocity at infinity is zero. If launched with velocity v > Ve, the body will escape and, due to conservation of energy, retain a residual speed (v_infinity) at an infinite distance, calculated by v_infinity = √(v² - Ve²). Here, v = 2Ve, so it retains speed.
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