Menu

Recap - Space Probe

Part of the Mechanics section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 97 of 97.

challenge icon

Challenge

A 20 kg20\ \mathrm{kg} probe is fired straight up from a small airless moon (radius 50 000 m50\,000\ \mathrm{m}, surface gravity 0.02 m/s20.02\ \mathrm{m/s^2}) by a spring launcher with k=128 000 N/mk = 128\,000\ \mathrm{N/m} compressed by 0.5 m0.5\ \mathrm{m}. Find the distance rr from the moon's centre where the probe stops and turns back.

Try it yourself

Physics diagram: planet, spring, path, satellite

Solve for rr

All lessons in Mechanics