Physics / Astronomy HELP HELP HELP...???

Question

Two particals with different masses are travelling at the same orbital radius around Jupiter. The particals are on opposite sides of the planet.

NOTE: v = (Square Root) Gm(3)/r

Will one partical eventually overtake the other?

A. Yes, the larger particle will overtake the smaller particle.
B. Yes, the smaller particle will overtake the larger particle.
C. No, they will remain the same distance apart.
D. The answer cannot be determined from the information.

Answer 1

The answer is C. You do not need the velocity or even the radius to determine this. If two objects are are in orbit at the same distance from the cener of the object they are orbiting, their velocities are the same, so they will never catch up with each other. . .

Answer 2

ANSWER = D

You failed to give us the velocity of the two objects. One could be traveling very slow, and one traveling very fast. In that scenario, it is, of course, understood that slow was fast enough to maintain orbit.

Since they are in stable orbit (you suggested that), I am puzzeled by the fact that you say the radius of orbit is equal, yet the masses are different. If I read this correctly the larger mass object is slowing or has slowed down and may be falling out of orbit. That is the only way I can see the two objects orbiting in a circle at the same radius, gravitational pull being equal in all respects.

Were the two to maintain exact radius distance, the smaller should over take the larger object. However, I believe that the larger object is falling in toward the planet Jupiter, and therefore the overtaking issue may be immaterial if a collision was what was expected.

Answer 3

Because all objects fall at the same rate regardless of mass (and because essentially an object in orbit is in constant freefall) the answer is C.