Example $13\mathrm{.}8$

How Far Can an Object Escape?

Let's consider the preceding example again, where we calculated the escape speed from Earth and the Sun, starting from Earth's orbit. We noted that Earth already has an orbital speed of $30k\frac{m}{s}.$ As we see in the next section, that is the tangential speed needed to stay in circular orbit. If an object had this speed at the distance of Earth's orbit, but was headed directly away from the Sun, how far would it travel before coming to rest? Ignore the gravitational effects of any other bodies.