Why is escape velocity independent of mass
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Yes, an object has escape speed when its kinetic energy is equal to (minus) its potential energy relative to infinity. So if an object of mass m is a distance r from a point mass (or the center of a spherical mass) M, you get:
1/2 mv^2 = GMm / r
The object's mass, m, cancels from the equation, and when you solve for the speed you get:
v = sqrt (2GM / r)
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