🎡ap physics 1 review

Escape velocity

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 examWritten by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

The minimum velocity required for a satellite to escape the gravitational pull of a central object, defined as the velocity at which the total mechanical energy of the satellite-central-object system equals zero, calculated as v_esc = √(2GM/r).

AP course connection

Topic 6.6: 6.6 Motion of Orbiting Satellites

Unit 6

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