Gravity's Race/ Contest Who wins?

[Chuck St. Lou]

Gravity's Race/ Contest... Who wins?

Click on attachment and post your answer
You'll be amazed!

Winner Willie
or
Red Balloon

 

[Doc Al]

This looks like more of what you started in https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=283847. Have you corrected your errors yet?

 

[rcgldr]

Amazed that I responded to this thread. There doesn't appear to be enough information, such as the vertical distances, and the distance between large happy planet and the finish line.

 

[Chuck St. Lou]

Amazed that I responded to this thread. There doesn't appear to be enough information, such as the vertical distances, and the distance between large happy planet and the finish line.

Hi Jeff
The distance to the finish line is 1000 kilometers. It's called "Fast & furious 1000 Kilometer Vacuum Race Way"


As for the vertical distance, I am not sure what you mean? Each race is a different event i.e. Same place same distance at different times. Everything is the same except for the masses of the two objects released. In the illustration I mention the events are a week apart.

 

[Chuck St. Lou]

Hi Jeff
The distance to the finish line is 1000 kilometers. It's called "Fast & furious 1000 Kilometer Vacuum Race Way"


As for the vertical distance, I am not sure what you mean? Each race is a different event i.e. Same place same distance at different times. Everything is the same except for the masses of the two objects released. In the illustration I mention the events are a week apart.

Hi Jeff
Sorry for the omission of data.
The distance from the start line to the happy planet is 3000 kilometers
Sorry about that.
Chuck

 

[rcgldr]

Still needed are the vertical distances between willie and balloon, as well as the vertical component of distance between happy planet, willie, and balloon. If I put willie 1 trillion km below happy planet and balloon, balloon will win the race everytime.

 

[Chuck St. Lou]

Still needed are the vertical distances between willie and balloon, as well as the vertical component of distance between happy planet, willie, and balloon. If I put willie 1 trillion km below happy planet and balloon, balloon will win the race everytime.

Hi Jeff

The idea is that there is only one happy planet and each race starts at a different time. But if it helps, you could think of the race happening simultaneously but far enough apart that the gravity from the objects from the upper race don't affect the objects in the lower race. A trillion km if you will.
I 'm attaching another JPG with the added dimensions.

Chuck

 

[rcgldr]

While not completely giving away the answer, consider each race as a closed system, and note that being a closed system, with no external forces, the center of mass of each closed two body system will not move.

 

[Chuck St. Lou]

While not completely giving away the answer, consider each race as a closed system, and note that being a closed system, with no external forces, the center of mass of each closed two body system will not move.

Yes each race is a closed system with no external forces.
Yes the balloon, Willie, and Happy Place will keep their round shape during the race with the center of gravity at their center i.e. no tricks.

 

[rcgldr]

While not completely giving away the answer, consider each race as a closed system, and note that being a closed system, with no external forces, the center of mass of each closed two body system will not move.

Yes each race is a closed system with no external forces.
Yes the balloon, Willie, and Happy Place will keep their round shape during the race with the center of gravity at their center i.e. no tricks.

What I meant was that the center of mass between Happy Place and balloon doesn't move, and neither does the center of mass between Happy Place and Willie.

 

[Chuck St. Lou]

What I meant was that the center of mass between Happy Place and balloon doesn't move, and neither does the center of mass between Happy Place and Willie.

Gotcha ya. The center of mass will not move and in the case of the red balloon the center of mass won't be to far from the center of happy planet.