Meteorites from Mars Several meteorites found in Antarctica are believed to have come from Mars, including the famous ALH84001 meteorite that some believe contains fossils of ancient life on Mars. Meteorites from Mars are thought to get to Earth by being blasted off the Martian surface when a large object (such as an asteroid or a comet) crashes into the planet.

Question

What speed must a rock have to escape Mars?

Answer 1

mV^2/2 = G*Mmars*m/Rmars
V^2 = 2*G*Mmars/Rmars
= 2*g'*Rmars
where G is the universal gravity constant and g' is the acceleration of gravity on Mars. Rmars is the radius of mars.