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The perihelion of the comet TOTAS is 1.69 AU and the aphelion is 4.40 AU. Given that its speed at perihelion is 28 km/s, what is the speed (in km/s) at aphelion (1 AU = 1.496 ✕ 1011 m)? (Hint: You may use either conservation of energy or angular momentum, but the latter is much easier.)

Answer :

bridareiven

Answer:

The speed at the aphelion is 10.75 km/s.

Explanation:

The angular momentum is defined as:

[tex]L = mrv[/tex] (1)

Since there is no torque acting on the system, it can be expressed in the following way:

[tex]t = \frac{\Delta L}{\Delta t}[/tex]

[tex]t \Delta t = \Delta L[/tex]

[tex]\Delta L = 0[/tex]

[tex]L_{a} - L_{p} = 0[/tex]

[tex]L_{a} = L_{p}[/tex]   (2)

Replacing equation 1 in equation 2 it is gotten:

[tex]mr_{a}v_{a} =mr_{p}v_{p}[/tex] (3)

Where m is the mass of the comet, [tex]r_{a}[/tex] is the orbital radius at the aphelion, [tex]v_{a}[/tex] is the speed at the aphelion, [tex]r_{p}[/tex] is the orbital radius at the perihelion and [tex]v_{p}[/tex] is the speed at the perihelion.          

From equation 3 v_{a} will be isolated:    

[tex]v_{a} = \frac{mr_{p}v_{p}}{mr_{a}}[/tex]

[tex]v_{a} = \frac{r_{p}v_{p}}{r_{a}}[/tex]   (4)    

Before replacing all the values in equation 4 it is necessary to express the orbital radius for the perihelion and the aphelion from AU (astronomical units) to meters, and then from meters to kilometers:

[tex]r_{p} = 1.69 AU x \frac{1.496x10^{11} m}{1 AU}[/tex] ⇒ [tex]2.528x10^{11} m[/tex]

[tex]r_{p} = 2.528x10^{11} m x \frac{1km}{1000m}[/tex] ⇒ [tex]252800000 km[/tex]

[tex]r_{a} = 4.40 AU x \frac{1.496x10^{11} m}{1 AU}[/tex] ⇒ [tex]6.582x10^{11} m[/tex]

[tex]r_{p} = 6.582x10^{11} m x \frac{1km}{1000m}[/tex] ⇒ [tex]658200000 km[/tex]  

     

Then, finally equation 4 can be used:

[tex]v_{a} = \frac{(252800000 km)(28 km/s)}{(658200000 km)}[/tex]

[tex]v_{a} = 10.75 km/s[/tex]

Hence, the speed at the aphelion is 10.75 km/s.

       

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