Suppose that a satellite is given a speed 10% larger than circular velocity. What would be the shape of the trajectory of the body?
2007-09-15 07:19:19 · 3 answers · asked by New Mommy 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
An elliptical orbit with the perigee( or perihelion or pericynthion or peri- whatever) at the point in the orbit where the acceleration was applied and the apogee ( or whatever) at point on the opposite of the primary (i.e. 180 degrees).
Try doing a google on "orbital mechanics" to work out how to find the eccentricity of the orbit if you need that as well.
2007-09-15 07:55:35 · answer #1 · answered by Jim E 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
"circular velocity" would seem like a contradiction in terms. Do you mean orbital velocity? (though maybe "orbital speed" would be a better term)
Anyway, I'm not competent to calculate the exact path such a body would follow. But I would suspect that it would still actually orbit the primary, but with a low point and a high point. I'll bet you can get a notion of the shape from that.
2007-09-15 07:27:23 · answer #2 · answered by Robert K 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Suppose a satellite is orbiting in a circle. If you increase it's speed in the direction it is travelling in, the orbit will then be an ellipse. The point at which you changed it's speed will be closest point to what it is orbiting. At half an orbit around from this point it will be at it's closest again. The farthest point will be 1/4 and 3/4 of the way around from where you sped it up.
EDIT:
Ooops! What was I thinking? JimE is right.
The max distance (apogee) is 180 degrees from where it sped up
2007-09-15 07:40:35 · answer #3 · answered by Demiurge42 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋