- #1
ehrenfest
- 2,020
- 1
Homework Statement
If two particles are orbiting each other in a circular orbit with a period of tau, show that if you stop them both in an instant, they will fall into each other after a time tau/ 4 sqrt2 .
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
So, we know that they must be along a diameter and we can use f = m v^2/ r_0 to express f in terms of tau and then V in terms of tau. I get:
[tex] f = m \tau^2 4 \pi^2 r_0 [/tex]
V = -f * r
But don't we know that V = -GM1M2/r so why is my expression for V different than that?