Gravitational potential energy: A meteoroid, heading straight for Earth, has a speed of 14.8 km/s relative to the center of Earth as it crosses our moon's orbit, a distance of 3.84 × 10⁸ m from the earth's center. What is the meteroid's speed as it hits the earth? You can neglect the effects of the moon, Earth's atmosphere, and any motion of the earth. (G = 6.67 × 10^-11 N ∙ m²/kg², M_earth = 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg) A) 18.5 km/s B) 21.5 km/s C) 32.4 km/s D) 87.3 km/s

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is A because the meteoroid's speed increases as it falls towards Earth due to the increase in gravitational potential energy.

Gravitational Potential Energy: a Meteoroid, Heading Straight for Earth, Has