A form of this quantity is given by the square root of mu over a, and its square is the characteristic energy; that is this quantity’s “hyperbolic excess.” Since the rate of specific energy change is this quantity dotted with acceleration, specific energy gains are highest when this quantity is highest by the Oberth effect. (15[2])Space mission (15[1])planning (15[1])often (15[1])computes the “budget” in this (15[1])quantity’s delta, (15[2]-5[1])which (15[1])can be calculated (15[1])using (15[1])the (15[1])(*) Tsiolkovsky (10[3]-5[1])rocket equation. (10[1]-5[2])The square root of (10[1])2GM (10[1])over r gives a threshold value for this quantity (10[5])in a gravitational (10[1])field. (10[5]-5[2])For a constant-mass (10[1])object, (-5[1])the object’s mass times the change in this quantity gives the impulse (10[1])on the object. (10[1])For 10 points, (-5[1])to exit (10[1])Earth’s gravity, (10[1])an object (10[1])must attain the “escape” (10[2])form (10[1])of what quantity? ■END■ (10[4])