Conics Application Problem

[mathfailure]

A spacecraft is in a circular orbit 150 km above Earth. Once it obtains the velocity needed to escape Earths gravity, the spacecraft will follow a parabolic path with the focus at the center of the Earth. Suppose it obtains its escape velocity above the North Pole. Assume the center of Earth is the origin and the radius of Earth is 6400 km. Write an equation for the parabolic path of the spacecraft.

I know the parabolic formula:
(y-k)²=4p(x-h)
and that with the center being the origin, it will be:
(y)²=4p(x)
after that, I'm lost.

 

[mmm4444bot]

Write an equation for the parabolic path of the spacecraft.

The instruction reads "an equation", not "the equation". In other words, there are many possible parabolic paths.

Have you yet learned about the directrix? It seems to me that you are free to place it anywhere that makes sense, in this exercise.

Also, were you able to draw a picture?

Cheers ~ Mark :cool: