Escape Velocity (Escape from a Gravity Well)



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 Code Number :   1D55.17  

Disclaimer:

Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website.

The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources.

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Condition :   Good   
Principle :   Space Flight  
Area of Study :  Solar and Galactic Astronomy  
Equipment :   Gravity Well Demo, 1' Steel Balls.
Procedure :   Set the demo up so that the end of the rail is in a horizontal position. You want the steel balls to remain at the end and not roll back down. Now using the spring accelerator you can demonstrate that a measured amount of force is needed for the ball to escape the gravity well (Remain at the end of the rail). Note: The spring accelerator is marked so that you can measure the amount of force that you want to apply. To little force and the ball will fall back towards the spring accelerator (Spacecraft will not achieve orbit).  
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   References

M-815:  "Escape Velocity-Spoof,"  DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.

 

Janice VanCleave, "Escape," 202 Oozing, Bubbling, Dripping, and Bouncing Experiments, pp. 18.

Janice VanCleave, "Escape," Astronomy for Every Kid.  p. 204.

2.21, "Velocity of Escape", Project & Demonstrations in Astronomy by D.Tattersfield, p.30.



Mail Questions and Comments to:  Dale Stille