What is the ratio of potential energy to kinetic energy for a comet that has just enough energy to escape from the Sun's gravitational field?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For an object to escape a gravitational field, its total mechanical energy (kinetic + potential) must be zero. The potential energy is negative, and the kinetic energy is positive. At the escape velocity, the magnitude of potential energy equals the kinetic energy, but with opposite signs, making the ratio -1.

What Is the Ratio of Potential Energy to Kinetic Energy