Why does an 8-km/s horizontally fired projectile not strike earth's surface?

Question

Assuming no air resistance, Why does an 8-km/s horizontally fired projectile not strike earth's surface?

Answer 1

I presume because it will go into orbit. The gravity pulling it towards the Earth will generate an equal centrifugal force, which will cause it to orbit the Earth.

You failed to mention that the projectile needs to be at altitude so as to clear mountains & c. Also, as you said, air resistance is not a factor, so this is a theoretical experiment.

Answer 2

Eventually the gravity of the earth will over ride the projectile's velocity and slowly pull it down unless the projectile is farther out in space where the projectile's speed and the earth's gravity offset each other

Answer 3

Because 8km/s (aka approx 18,000 miles per hour) and no air resistance to slow it down, exceeds the escape velocity of the earth's gravitational pull if fired in the opposite direction of the earth rotation.

Answer 4

8 hm/s is 800 m/s (h prefix is rarely used) Orbital velocity on earth's floor is 7905 m/s so which you're off by employing a ingredient of 10 So your assertion is misguided, it does strike the earth's floor. .

Answer 5

The earth is round. Also how high off the ground was it when fired? It must have missed all the hills and mountains.

Answer 6

It orbits..It falls at the same rate the ground curves away from it.

Answer 7

if it's small enough, it's burned up in the earth's atmosphere by friction-created heat.

Answer 8

going way to fast