ESCAPE VELOCITY Meaning and
Definition
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Escape velocity is a concept used in physics and aerospace engineering to describe the minimum speed an object must reach to break free from the gravitational pull of a celestial body, such as a planet or a moon. It is defined as the speed required for an object to achieve a parabolic trajectory that would enable it to overcome the gravitational force and move indefinitely away from the source of gravity.
The calculation of escape velocity involves considering the mass of the celestial body and the distance from its center to the object. It assumes a scenario where there is no atmosphere or external forces acting on the object, other than the gravitational force. Technically, escape velocity varies depending on the direction of movement, but it is commonly referred to as a scalar quantity to simplify calculations.
Escape velocity plays a crucial role in space exploration as it dictates the amount of energy required for a spacecraft to leave Earth's orbit and reach space. It is often achieved by using powerful rockets or propulsion systems that generate enough thrust to surpass the escape velocity. Without reaching this critical speed, objects launched into space would inevitably fall back to the celestial body they originated from.
In summary, escape velocity is the speed necessary for an object to overcome the gravitational pull of a celestial body and enter a trajectory away from it. It is a fundamental concept in understanding the mechanics of space travel and exploration.
Common Misspellings for ESCAPE VELOCITY
- wscape velocity
- sscape velocity
- dscape velocity
- rscape velocity
- 4scape velocity
- 3scape velocity
- eacape velocity
- ezcape velocity
- excape velocity
- edcape velocity
- eecape velocity
- ewcape velocity
- esxape velocity
- esvape velocity
- esfape velocity
- esdape velocity
- esczpe velocity
- escspe velocity
- escwpe velocity
Etymology of ESCAPE VELOCITY
The term "escape velocity" originates from a combination of two words: "escape" and "velocity".
"Escape" is derived from the Latin word "excape" or "excapare", which means "to get out of or away from". It later evolved into Anglo-Norman French as "eschaper" and then into Middle English as "escapen".
"Velocity" stems from the Latin word "velocitas", derived from the adjective "velox" which means "swift", "quick", or "rapid". Through the influence of Old French, "velocitas" transformed into Middle English as "velocity" and has retained its meaning of speed or rate of motion.
Therefore, the combination of "escape" and "velocity" resulted in the term "escape velocity", which refers to the minimum speed required for an object to escape the gravitational pull of a planet or another celestial body.
Similar spelling words for ESCAPE VELOCITY
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