BR physics chapter 3 passage 10 question 68

[2010premed]

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The escape velocity of a rocket is necessarily larger if:

the rocket has a smaller gravitational potential energy upon liftoff...

Can some please explain this to me?

From passage, escape velocity is minimal velocity the spacecraft must have to escape the earth's gravitational pull

 

[PiBond]

The escape velocity of a rocket is necessarily larger if:

the rocket has a smaller gravitational potential energy upon liftoff...

Can some please explain this to me?

From passage, escape velocity is minimal velocity the spacecraft must have to escape the earth's gravitational pull

gravitational potential is a negative value. thus a smaller potential energy implies that it's "feeling" more of the earth. when it is infinitely far away it will approach zero and thus be at a maximum value