- #1
uknova
- 12
- 0
I read a recently launched spacecraft is going to pluto and is swinging around Jupiter to help it speed up.
I don't understand much about physics but surely the planets gravity will give as much kinetic energy as it takes away, once the craft is moving away from the planet.
How can it actually gain speed from swinging round a planet, i would of guessed it would speed up as it approached, then slow down to its original speed as it goes away from the planet?
Can anyone explain in simple terms?
I don't understand much about physics but surely the planets gravity will give as much kinetic energy as it takes away, once the craft is moving away from the planet.
How can it actually gain speed from swinging round a planet, i would of guessed it would speed up as it approached, then slow down to its original speed as it goes away from the planet?
Can anyone explain in simple terms?