Question

Q10. Assume that the Earth is orbiting the sun in a perfectly circular orbit. If the Earth is hit by a huge meteorite but its orbiting angular momentum is not changed (this can be the case if the hit is along the radial direction of the orbit), what would be the change in Earth’s orbit?

A. No change

B. Earth would move in a circular orbit with a larger radius

C. Earth would move in a circular orbit with a smaller radius

D. Earth’s orbit would not change, but its period is lengthened

E. Earth’s orbit would become elliptical

Answer 1

If meteorite strike the earth along the radius of earth orbit or along any other direction, there will me no fly-off the earth from its orbit because M>>m, i.e., earth will move in its initial orbit.