How Do You Calculate the Final Speed of a Comet in Orbit?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the final speed of a comet in orbit, specifically using the conservation of angular momentum. The problem involves a comet of mass m moving from distance r1 to r2 from the Sun, with an initial speed v1 and an angle θ between the position vector and the velocity vector at r2. The correct approach is to equate the angular momentum at both points, leading to the expression for v2 based on the conservation principle.

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Homework Statement



(a) A certain comet of mass m at its closest approach to the Sun is observed to be at a distance r1 from the center of the Sun, moving with speed v1. At a later time the comet is observed to be at a distance r2 from the center of the Sun, and the angle between rvec2 and the velocity vector is measured to be θ. What is v2?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I thought it would be mv1cos(90-theta). But it's counting that wrong, and I only have one more attempt at this problem, and I'm not sure how to approach it.
 
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Angular momentum is conserved, so find expressions for the angular momentum at the two points and set them equal.
 

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