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Ch 14: Periodic Motion
Chapter 14, Problem 13

Jupiter's moon Io has active volcanoes (in fact, it is the most volcanically active body in the solar system) that eject material as high as 500 km (or even higher) above the surface. Io has a mass of 8.93 * 10^22 kg and a radius of 1821 km. For this calculation, ignore any variation in gravity over the 500-km range of the debris. How high would this material go on earth if it were ejected with the same speed as on Io?

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Step 1: Calculate the acceleration due to gravity on Io using the formula \( g = \frac{GM}{R^2} \), where \( G \) is the gravitational constant (6.67430 x 10^-11 m^3 kg^-1 s^-2), \( M \) is the mass of Io, and \( R \) is the radius of Io.
Step 2: Determine the initial velocity of the ejected material on Io using the formula for maximum height of a projectile: \( H = \frac{v^2}{2g} \), where \( H \) is the maximum height and \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity on Io. Solve for \( v \) (initial velocity).
Step 3: Calculate the acceleration due to gravity on Earth, which is approximately 9.81 m/s^2.
Step 4: Use the initial velocity calculated in Step 2 and apply it to the formula for maximum height on Earth: \( H_{earth} = \frac{v^2}{2g_{earth}} \), where \( g_{earth} \) is the acceleration due to gravity on Earth.
Step 5: The result from Step 4 will give you the maximum height the material would reach if ejected with the same initial velocity on Earth.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Gravitational Acceleration

Gravitational acceleration is the acceleration of an object due to the force of gravity acting on it. On Earth, this value is approximately 9.81 m/s², while on Io, it is significantly lower due to its smaller mass and radius. Understanding how gravitational acceleration affects the height an object can reach is crucial for comparing the ejection heights on different celestial bodies.
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Kinematic Equations

Kinematic equations describe the motion of objects under constant acceleration. They can be used to relate initial velocity, final velocity, acceleration, and displacement. In this context, these equations will help determine how high the material would rise on Earth if ejected with the same initial speed as on Io, taking into account the different gravitational forces.
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Conservation of Energy

The principle of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. When an object is ejected from a surface, its kinetic energy converts to gravitational potential energy as it rises. This concept is essential for calculating the maximum height reached by the ejected material on Earth, as it allows for the comparison of energy states between Io and Earth.
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