In order to fire a projectile upward and have it escape the Earth's gravity,
A)the kinetic energy of the projectile may have any positive value.
B)the potential energy of the projectile must be positive
C)the total energy (kinetic plus potential)of the projectile must be negative
D)the total energy (kinetic plus potential)of the projectile must not be negative
E)the total energy (kinetic plus potential)of the projectile must be exactly zero

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For a projectile to escape Earth's gravity, its total energy (kinetic plus potential) must not be negative. This means the projectile has enough kinetic energy to overcome the gravitational potential energy of the Earth, allowing it to escape into space without falling back. If the total energy were negative, the projectile would be bound by Earth's gravity.

In Order to Fire a Projectile Upward and Have It