2006-07-15 06:52:17 · 4 answers · asked by Abhi 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
That depends on the escape velocity, as the earth's gravitational pull extends a long way out - the moon at 380,000 km away is still held in its orbit by the interaction between the earth's and the moon's respective gravitational fields.
The earth's gravitional field ("G") at surface is 9.8 meters per second, and this decreases the higher you go by the inverse square of the distance. At 200 km above the earth's surface (the average orbital height for most satellites and the space shuttle), the escape velocity is about 40,000 km/h. The further away you go, G decreases and therefore the lower the escape velocity.
2006-07-15 07:43:42 · answer #1 · answered by minefinder 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A bit of ambiguous question, the gravitational pull of the earth extends many hundreds of thousand of miles. I would guess at about60 miles when an object is trapped into irrecoverable decent.
2006-07-15 13:58:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Regardless where you are gravity will get you...
Now you're velocity does matter - you can be in orbit 10 feet off the ground if you travel fast enough...
2006-07-15 13:56:36 · answer #3 · answered by Steve D 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Only a rocket surgeon would know that!
2006-07-15 13:55:55 · answer #4 · answered by Bear Naked 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋