Question

A missile is launched with a velocity less than escape velocity. The sum of its kinetic energy and potential energy is ___________

(a) Zero

(b) Positive

(c) Negative

(d) First positive and then negative

This question was posed to me during an internship interview.

My doubt stems from Intensity of Gravitational Field in division Mechanical Properties of Solids of Engineering Physics I

Answer 1

The correct answer is (c) Negative

To explain: For velocity less than the escape velocity, the missile is bound due to the gravitational field of the earth. Hence its total energy is negative.