Can You Achieve a Circular Orbit with Non-Perpendicular Launch Velocities?

AI Thread Summary
To achieve a circular orbit around a planet, the launch velocity must be perpendicular to the radius vector at a distance R, specifically at Sqrt[Gm/R]. Launching at an angle introduces a non-perpendicular component, which affects the trajectory. The resulting orbit is likely to be elliptical rather than circular, as the perpendicular component remains the same but the angle alters the overall path. Therefore, a non-perpendicular launch velocity does not allow for a circular orbit. The conclusion is that any angled launch will result in an elliptical orbit.
m00npirate
Messages
50
Reaction score
0
If you are at the distance R from a planet and you want to achieve a circular orbit your velocity must be Sqrt[Gm/R] perpendicular to the radius vector.

But what if you launch at an angle (ie no longer perpendicular to the radius)? Is it still possible to achieve a circular orbit if the perpendicular component is still Sqrt[Gm/R]?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Mt guess is that you will end up with some sort of ellipse.
 
You will definitely have a non-circular ellipse.
 

Thread '1:1 versus 2:1 Mechanical Advantage debate'

The rope is tied into the person (the load of 200 pounds) and the rope goes up from the person to a fixed pulley and back down to his hands. He hauls the rope to suspend himself in the air. What is the mechanical advantage of the system? The person will indeed only have to lift half of his body weight (roughly 100 pounds) because he now lessened the load by that same amount. This APPEARS to be a 2:1 because he can hold himself with half the force, but my question is: is that mechanical...
View full post »

Thread 'Average velocity as a weighted mean'

Hello everyone, Consider the problem in which a car is told to travel at 30 km/h for L kilometers and then at 60 km/h for another L kilometers. Next, you are asked to determine the average speed. My question is: although we know that the average speed in this case is the harmonic mean of the two speeds, is it also possible to state that the average speed over this 2L-kilometer stretch can be obtained as a weighted average of the two speeds? Best regards, DaTario
View full post »

Thread 'Newton's first law?'

Some physics textbook writer told me that Newton's first law applies only on bodies that feel no interactions at all. He said that if a body is on rest or moves in constant velocity, there is no external force acting on it. But I have heard another form of the law that says the net force acting on a body must be zero. This means there is interactions involved after all. So which one is correct?
View full post »

Similar threads

Calculation of orbital velocity -- Geometrical solution
Replies
14
Views
2K
Motion predicted by Newton's laws
Replies
19
Views
2K
Orbits from Impacts: Can Projections Achieve Orbit?
Replies
10
Views
2K
Why do we need the hyperbolic excess velocity?
Replies
1
Views
12K
I Can a Satellite Maintain its Angular Velocity with Continuous Low Thrust?
Replies
2
Views
2K
I Reasoning for circular/elliptical orbits
2
Replies
58
Views
4K
How to get tangential velocity
Replies
28
Views
4K
Can Sci-Fi Spacecraft Achieve Stable Orbit with Plasma Technology?
Replies
4
Views
1K
How do I calculate orbital height from orbital velocity?
Replies
6
Views
3K
I Coriolis acceleration of a projectile launched at the equator
Replies
4
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top