Edexcel M3 — Question 5

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleM3 (Mechanics 3)
TopicWork, energy and Power 2

5. When a particle of mass \(M\) is at a distance of \(x\) metres from the centre of the moon, the gravitational force, \(F\) N, acting on it and directed towards the centre of the moon is given by $$F = \frac { \left( 4.90 \times 10 ^ { 12 } \right) M } { x ^ { 2 } }$$ A rocket is projected vertically into space from a point on the surface of the moon with initial speed \(u \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). Given that the radius of the moon is \(\left( 1.74 \times 10 ^ { 6 } \right) \mathrm { m }\),
  1. show that the speed of the rocket, \(v \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\), when it is \(x\) metres from the centre of the moon is given by $$v ^ { 2 } = u ^ { 2 } + \frac { a } { x } - b$$ where \(a\) and \(b\) are constants which should be found correct to 3 significant figures.
  2. Find, correct to 2 significant figures, the minimum value of \(u\) needed for the rocket to escape the moon's gravitational attraction.