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

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The meteoroid's final speed can be calculated using the conservation of energy principle. The initial kinetic energy plus the initial gravitational potential energy equals the final kinetic energy plus the final gravitational potential energy. The increase in speed is due to the conversion of gravitational potential energy into kinetic energy as the meteoroid falls towards Earth.

A Meteoroid,heading Straight for Earth,has a Speed of 14