- 1). Understand that escape velocity depends on two things: the object's kinetic and potential energy. Kinetic energy is energy for something in motion. Potential energy is stored energy. Any time an object is above the ground, gravity could pull that object down to Earth's surface. The potential for an object to fall toward Earth because of gravity is potential energy. In order for an object to escape a planet's gravity, the kinetic energy for the object needs to be equal to the potential energy of gravity.
- 2). Write down the formula for kinetic energy which is 1/2 times mass times escape velocity squared.
- 3). Set kinetic energy equal to the potential energy of a planet. A planet's potential energy factors in the gravity, mass and radius of the planet. Potential energy of a planet is gravity times the mass of the planet times the mass of the object, all divided by the radius of the planet.
- 4). Solve for escape velocity. To do this, you multiple both sides of your equation by two. Then divide both sides by mass of your object. Then take the square root of both sides.
- 5). Have your final escape velocity equation. It is escape velocity equals the square root of two times the gravity of the planet times the mass of the planet divided by the radius of the planet.
- 6). Find numbers for the gravity, mass and radius of a planet, and you can calculate the escape velocity for any planet.
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