Who needs Space Syllabus Summaries? (1 Viewer)

[Abtari]

Sure u can!!!


U don't need to know too much.. but its always good to have a little more knoweldege about the concept..

In my half yearly i was asked the following questions:

When sending space probes to distant planets, scientists make use of the so called 'garvity-assist' (or 'slingshot') trajectories,

(a) Explain the maning of this term (3 marks)

(b) Clearly explain how this assists in reducing the fuel required to reach the distant planet. (2marks)


Ok i'll give u info whch i think is more than suffcent for this dot pt.

Sometimes the garvitational fields of planets can be used to increase the speed of spacecraft relative to the Sun and ths reduce travel times and minimise fuel and energy demans. Such spacecraft are said to be on "garvity-assist trajectories" and the whole process is often referred to as the "slingshot" effect. Essentially, the spacecraft moves behind the planet as viewed from the Sun, and is accelerated by this moving garvity field, much as a surfer is pushed forward by a wave. The energy gained by the spacecraft does not actually come from the garvitational field but from the kinetic energy of the moving planet, which is slowed by a tiny amount in its orbit, causing it to drop veryslighlty closer to the Sun.


I think that should be enough info...

3 marks to explain a term lol... neway

i thought that since the slingshot effect was a gravity-assisted manouevre (spelling!), the extra kinetic energy gained by the rocket would come from gravitational potential energy of the rocket being in the planet's field. are u sure about the energy coming from the planet's kinetic energy??

confused...

 

[speed2]

the extra kinetic does come from the planet. but the planet only slows down a bit because it is so big.

 

[Abtari]

the extra kinetic does come from the planet. but the planet only slows down a bit because it is so big.

yes, the extra kinetic energy does come from the planet, but i was querying physician as to whether it came from the gravitational potential energy possessed by the object because of the PLANET'S field or whether this "boost" came from the KINETIC ENERGY OF THE PLANET itself (which he mentioned in his post).

i was just reading my notes and it seems that it could be BOTH.
i.e. gravity assisted --> yes but also because the planet is in constant motion around the sun, the object is dragged by the motion causing the object to gain velocity w.r.t. the sun.

however i think it still is the gravitational potential energy that gives the object the extra energy...but i need clarification.