Recent content by CornerCase

  1. C

    How Do Two Equal Mass Asteroids Orbit Each Other?

    Thank you. I was overcomplicating the idea. As the two asteroids spin, their (point-mass) centers are moving at v, but the points nearest each other (s apart) are moving <v and the points farthest out (.5s+2r) are moving >v. I didn't know if masses that close would modify the calculations.
  2. C

    How Do Two Equal Mass Asteroids Orbit Each Other?

    Thanks for letting me know that centripetal force = gravitational force is the way to go. Now, it would affect the stresses on the mass from the points closest to the center to those farther away, but its good to know that doesn't affect orbital calculations. And to think, AFTER I got the...
  3. C

    How Do Two Equal Mass Asteroids Orbit Each Other?

    Homework Statement Consider only two asteroids, both of uniform mass ma, r=10km radius, separated by s=10m. What are the equations for velocity and orbital period for a stable circular orbit? Homework Equations If the asteroids are considered point masses then the distance between them, R...
Back
Top