Why is there a velocity associated with escaping from earth’s atmosphere? If an object were to fly from the surface of the planet at 1 m/s without any change in acceleration would it not eventually end up in space?
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>If an object were to fly from the surface of the planet at 1 m/s without any change in acceleration would it not eventually end up in space?
Yes, it would. If you would constantly travel at 1 m/s, you’d eventually get anywhere.
However, escape velocity is the velocity at which a **non-propelled** objects escapes the gravitational influence of the planet.
In other words, if you had a rocket that has infinite fuel and can constantly fly at 1 m/s, it would eventually fly off.
However, if you launch a cannonball at 1 m/s, it wouldn’t fly very far. If you launch it at escape velocity (and if we neglect atmospheric drag), then it would escape Earths the influence of Earth’s gravity.
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