Why does a comet follow a hyperbolic trajectory?

Answer 1

There are three different types of orbits that an object can follow, which one the object follows depends on how fast it goes (and the mass of the object it is 'revolving'). At the lowest velocity the object follows an elliptical orbit, then a parabolic orbit (the escape velocity) and if the velocity is higher than the escape velocity, the object follows a hyperbolic orbit.

Answer 2

Hyperbolic means that it is not captured in an orbit and the comet is travelling faster than the escape velocity. Comets from outside our solar system can follow a hyperbolic path. Slower comets go into elliptical orbits instead.

Answer 3

Comets are born in the outer region of the solar system, out there the effect of teh suns gravity is less. However when they come closer the gravity increases and the radius of rotation decreases. When the comet leaves the sun, it is flung back onto a hyperbolic path. Just like you would throw a rotating hammer in olympics!

Answer 4

some comets do stick with parabolic (no longer hyperbolic) orbits, which skill they in effortless words frame of mind the solar once and then fly off previous the picture voltaic gadget. i do not imagine each person has any idea what percentage comets are in everlasting elliptical orbits as against one-shot parabolas. We do recognize they arrive from the Oort Cloud, way previous Pluto's Kuiper Belt, at unpredictable periods. that is threat perturbations from different bodies that deliver them in the route of the solar, and prefer some thing else maximum of them are small and flow disregarded.

Answer 5

Orbits in 2 body approximation are conical.
The possible shapes are circle, ellipse, parabola, hyperbole.
Orbit are fully identified by 6 scalar constants, the main axis and eccentricity identify the shape, then angles identify the plane on which the orbit is placed, and its orientation and the planet position on it.
The shape depends by the body's speed at a determined distance.
The minimum speed to keep a satellite in orbit is the circular speed: Vc=sqrt(k/r)
The minimum speed to open the orbit is the parabolic speed(or escape speed): Vp=sqrt(2k/r)=sqrt(2)*Vc
To have hyperbolic orbit the speed must be greater than parabolic speed: Vh>Vp.
Because of comets arrives from "deep space" and they pass near the Sun or near the Earth, and they are too fast.
Bodies in orbit remain near the attractor, bodies arriving from outside have open orbit, so they pass too fast , and usually they fly-by the attractor and then they return far from the attractor. (except in special conditions).
For further explain a lot of vectoring equations are needed and this is not a place where it's easy to write vectoring equations.....

Answer 6

Consider the 'gravity' of the situation. What other trajectory would a comet choose?