Question

For a missile launched with a velocity less than the earth's escape velocity, the total energy is

(a) positive

(b) negative

(c) zero

(d) Either positive or negative

Answer 1

Correct option is (b) negative

Total energy of missile is the sum of kinetic energy and patential energy, which is negative. This is becomes for the velocity less than escape velocity, the missile is bounded due to gravitational field of the earth. Hence, its total energy is negative.