How Does the Gravitational Slingshot Effect Propel Objects?

AI Thread Summary
The gravitational slingshot effect occurs when an object passes close to a planet, gaining speed and altering its trajectory without entering orbit. This happens because the object's path is hyperbolic, allowing it to escape the planet's gravitational pull while still being influenced by it. The object's high energy level results in a trajectory that diverges from the planet's gravity, pushing it away rather than capturing it in orbit. The gravitational attraction is present, but the object's velocity and trajectory prevent it from being captured. Understanding this effect is crucial for space missions that utilize gravity assists to increase speed and change direction.
Ali Asadullah
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Please explain Gravitational Slingshot Effect?
And when an object passes near from a planet, why it doesn't start orbiting around the planet?
Why the object is pushed away even when there is attractive force (Gravity) between object and planet ..?
 
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Hi Ali! :smile:

Relative to a planet, a body must follow a hyperbola a parabola or an ellipse.

Which, depends on its energy.

A body with too much energy will follow a hyperbola, which means that its directions at "+∞" and "-∞" (which will be along asymptotes of the hyperbola) will be different … the closer it goes to the planet, the greater the angle between the asymptotes, and so the greater the "slingshot" effect. :wink:
 
Thanks Dear.
Please also explain that why the object doesn't orbit around the planet...?
Which force(s) pushes it away from the planet even when Gravitational Attraction is present between the object and the planet.
 
Ali Asadullah said:
Please explain Gravitational Slingshot Effect?
And when an object passes near from a planet, why it doesn't start orbiting around the planet?
Why the object is pushed away even when there is attractive force (Gravity) between object and planet ..?

Ali Asadullah said:
Thanks Dear.
Please also explain that why the object doesn't orbit around the planet...?
Which force(s) pushes it away from the planet even when Gravitational Attraction is present between the object and the planet.

The wikipedia article should help you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_slingshot

.
 
Thank YOu tiny-tim and Berkaman
 
I think it's easist first to watch a short vidio clip I find these videos very relaxing to watch .. I got to thinking is this being done in the most efficient way? The sand has to be suspended in the water to move it to the outlet ... The faster the water , the more turbulance and the sand stays suspended, so it seems to me the rule of thumb is the hose be aimed towards the outlet at all times .. Many times the workers hit the sand directly which will greatly reduce the water...

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