A satellite of mass M is in a circular orbit of radius R about the center of the earth. A meteorite of the same mass, falling towards the earth, collides with the satellite completely inelastic. The s

Question

A satellite of mass M is in a circular orbit of radius R about the center of the earth. A meteorite of the same mass, falling towards the earth, collides with the satellite completely inelastic. The speeds of the satellite and the meteorite are the same, just before the collision. The subsequent motion of the combined body will be:

TestHub · Accepted Answer

2 mv x = mv v x = v 2 Similarly v y = v 2 V net = v 2 2 + v 2 2 = v 2 As resultant velocity after collision is less than orbital velocity and it's direction is neither radial nor tangential , the combined mass will follow elliptical orbit

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