| A 100 kg rock is dropped from 10,000 km above the surface of the Earth directly above the equator. The Earth's equatorial radius is 6378 km and its mass is 5.974x1024 kg. Neglecting air resistance: |
| (A) |
What is the initial acceleration of the rock when it is dropped ? |
| (B) |
What is the initial mechanical energy of the rock when it is dropped ? |
| (C) |
How fast will the rock be moving vertically when it hits the surface of the Earth ? |
| (D) |
How long will the rock fall ? |