Are escape-trajectory-only forces possible?

[inottoe]

Just suppose for a moment that various discrepancies in spacecraft trajectories, such as the Earth flyby anomalies, are due to new physics. It’s been pointed out in various sources, for example http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0608087" , that the spacecraft happen to be on hyperbolic trajectories when the anomalies occur. Further, suppose that this new physics involves forces that only act on an object once it reaches escape velocity from a gravitational source such as the sun or a planet.

The question is: Would such a force cause any obvious violations of the known laws of physics? For example, would it break any conservational laws?

 

[Doc Al]

Just suppose for a moment that various discrepancies in spacecraft trajectories, such as the Earth flyby anomalies, are due to new physics.

If you're talking about the Pioneer anomaly, you might want to read this: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=486509"

 

[Janus]

There is also this:

http://www.universetoday.com/18337/flyby-anomalies-explained/

 

[inottoe]

Well, nothing's definitive just yet. There's http://arxiv.org/abs/1107.2886" from a few days ago.

The main question is whether or not a statistically significant anomalous acceleration signal still remains in the residuals after the thermal recoil force has been properly accounted for. Results of this meticulous study will be published soon.

 

[PJC01]

I cannot confirm or deny the existence of any new physics without proper evidence and experimentation. However, I can provide a response based on our current understanding of the laws of physics.

If we consider the concept of escape-trajectory-only forces, it would imply that these forces only act on an object once it has reached escape velocity from a gravitational source. This raises the question of whether these forces would violate any known laws of physics.

One of the fundamental principles of physics is the conservation of energy. This means that energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be transformed from one form to another. If escape-trajectory-only forces were to exist, they would have to comply with this principle. This would mean that the energy imparted on the spacecraft by these forces must come from some other source, such as the gravitational potential energy of the object.

Another important principle in physics is the conservation of momentum. This states that the total momentum of a system remains constant unless acted upon by an external force. If escape-trajectory-only forces were to exist, they would have to comply with this principle as well. This would mean that the forces would not violate any conservational laws.

However, it is important to note that any new physics, including the concept of escape-trajectory-only forces, would need to be thoroughly tested and verified through experimentation before being accepted as a valid explanation for the observed discrepancies in spacecraft trajectories. Until then, it remains a speculative idea and requires further investigation.