SQA Higher Physics Practice Exam

Achieving escape velocity means that an object has gained sufficient kinetic energy to overcome the gravitational pull of a celestial body without any additional propulsion. When an object reaches escape velocity, it can break free from the gravitational influence of that body and travel indefinitely into space, provided that it does not encounter any other forces or bodies that may alter its trajectory.

This allows the object to move away from the planet or moon without being pulled back down due to gravity. While factors like resistance from other celestial objects or forces can still influence the object's path, the primary outcome of reaching escape velocity is the ability to leave the gravitational influence of the body it was launched from and to move freely in space.

In contrast, falling back to the surface would imply that the object did not have enough energy to escape gravitational forces. Remaining in orbit would occur at a lower velocity than escape velocity, where the gravitational pull is balanced by the object's forward motion. Exploding suggests destructive failure, which is not a direct consequence of achieving escape velocity. Thus, the ability to travel indefinitely into space accurately describes the result of reaching escape velocity.