How does the slingshot effect work to gain speed? I understand how a body's gravity will accelerate a craft on approach, but won't it take away just as much momentum on departure?
2007-01-27 15:22:34 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
In a slingshot manuever, the planet or moon you are using for the gravity assist is not standing still... You get to add it's velocity in its orbit to the speed of your ship. That's where you get the extra speed.
2007-01-27 15:36:59 · answer #1 · answered by ~XenoFluX 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The slingshot effect is best explained as part of the vector nature of velocity. When falling toward another object that other object is also moving. The relative speed between the two objects is about the same in magnitude when the objects are approaching and are a particular distance apart and again when the objects are separating and have again reached that distance of separation. If the smaller object approaches the larger and then leaves the larger object essentially going the same direction that the larger is traveling then since the relative speeds are going to be about the same upon leaving, The smaller object will have added to it's own speed, the speed of the larger object.
2007-01-28 00:16:29 · answer #2 · answered by anonimous 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When approaching a body in space that has a respectable gravity well you will accelerate as long as you approach at an angle and not directly at the object(planet, moon). The acceleration will increase as you swing around and as long as you are not too close your increase in velocity will allow you to escape the gravity well. The act of escaping WILL reduce your velocity, causing deceleration, but you should be traveling faster than your original velocity if you did it right. The closer you go in to the object the faster your acceleration. If you miscalculate though you could end up trapped by the objects gravity and maybe crashing after making a highly elliptical orbit. Other than speed changes its also used as a way to redirect the flightpath/solor orbit of a satellite/explorer. Orbital mechanics are really beyond me. I can only grasp the basics.
2007-01-27 23:41:42 · answer #3 · answered by mazaker2000 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The gravitation of a planet drags and object to itself, but given an object that also has momentum will not be dragged to ground but rather catapulted in another direction.
Scientists have used this system for years sending many satellites across space i.e. Voyager
2007-01-27 23:27:36 · answer #4 · answered by Truth D 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no because in space there is nothing at all to push back on it but if your on earth it gravity has a pull and push and since in space you have pushed it its has nothing to push it back to slow it down
2007-01-27 23:28:52 · answer #5 · answered by derek 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Basicly, go in at a steep angle, go out at a shallow angle. . .
2007-01-27 23:29:34 · answer #6 · answered by Walking Man 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
http://www.mathpages.com/home/kmath114.htm
Check out this website, it has a very detailed answer.
2007-01-27 23:33:54 · answer #7 · answered by J P West 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
check the encyclopedia.
2007-01-27 23:58:22 · answer #8 · answered by fallinglight 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋