Thank you for the quick response! Quick clarification, though:
Would the planet's final momentum vector (assuming initial to be zero, and time of interaction -> 0) still be equal to the final momentum of the ball, but in the opposite direction? In other words, would the two post-separation...
Ok, so as far as I understand it, it is impossible to turn linear momentum (p) into rotational momentum (L), but I don't quite understand why. The main thought experiment I have in my head is this:
A ball in space is traveling with a momentum mbVb, and gravity and friction are assumed to be...