First slide

Gravitaional potential energy

Question

A missile is launched with a velocity less than the escape velocity. The sum of its kinetic and potential

Moderate

A

positive
B

negative
C

zero
D

may be positive or negative depending on its initial velocity

Solution

Since velocity of projectile is less than escape velocity, it will either strike the surface of earth or move around the earth in elliptical orbit. Therefore sum of K.E and P.E i.e., $\frac{1}{2} m v^{2} + (- \frac{G M m}{R}) < 0$
Hence option - (2) is right.

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