Velocity after slingshot at Jupiter

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the speed of Voyager 2 after a slingshot maneuver around Jupiter, treating it as a collision. The conservation of momentum and kinetic energy principles are applied to derive the final velocity of the spacecraft relative to the sun. Given the mass of Jupiter is significantly greater than that of Voyager 2, the analysis simplifies by canceling out the spacecraft's mass in the momentum equation. The final velocity of the spacecraft is approximated using the initial velocity of Jupiter, leading to a formula that reflects the gravitational influence of the planet. This approach effectively demonstrates the mechanics of the slingshot effect in space travel.
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Spacecraft voyager 2 (of mass m and speed v relative to the sun) approaches the planet Jupiter (of mass M and speed v_J relative to the sun). The spacecraft rounds the planet and departs in the opposite direction. What is its speed, relative to the sun, after this slingshot encounter, which can be anylized as a collision? Assumer v = 12km/s and v_J = 13km/s (the orbital speed of jupiter). The mass of Jupiter is very much grater than the mass of the spacecraft .

Can someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks
 
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Remove the fancy terminology and focus on collision mechanics.

Apply the conservation of momentum equation.
Apply conservation of kinetic energy.

Replace M as a function of m, such that all the m's in the momentum equation cancel. Do some factoring and cancelling and you can make the approximation that V_J(final) + V_J(initial) \approx 2V_J(initial) since the mass is very very large compared to the space craft.
 
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