Chaso said:Homework Statement
Comets move around the sun in very elliptical orbits. At its closet approach, in 1986, Comet Halley was 8.79 x 10^7 km from the sun and moving with a speed of 54.6 km/s.
What was the comet's speed when it crossed Neptune's orbit in 2006?
Homework Equations
Mv1r1=Mv2r2
The Attempt at a Solution
What I did was use the equation above, and solve for v2. But it says I'm wrong. Any Suggestions?
So use K2 + U2 = K1 + U1gneill said:The formula you've chosen would apply when the velocities are both perpendicular to the radii, say at perihelion and at aphelion. Here this holds true for only one of the given points (the closest approach).
Instead, consider a conservation of energy approach.
A comet is a small, icy body that orbits around the sun. They are made up of dust, gas, and ice, and can range in size from a few meters to tens of kilometers in diameter.
An elliptical orbit is a type of orbit in which the object follows an elliptical path around another object, such as a planet or star. This means that the distance between the two objects varies throughout the orbit.
A comet's orbit is typically more elongated and tilted compared to the relatively circular and flat orbits of planets. Comets also have much longer orbital periods, ranging from a few years to thousands of years, while planets have much shorter orbital periods.
A comet's elliptical orbit is a result of the gravitational pull of the sun and other planets in the solar system. The shape and orientation of a comet's orbit can also be influenced by close encounters with other objects in the solar system.
Scientists use telescopes and other instruments to observe and track the path of comets as they move through the solar system. They also use mathematical models and simulations to study the effects of gravitational forces and other factors on the orbits of comets.