In: Physics
A very large mass (for instance, the planet Jupiter) and a very small mass (for instance, the Voyager spacecraft) are moving toward each other at equal speeds (but in opposite directions). After a perfectly elastic gravitational collision in which the spacecraft swings all the way around the planet and departs in the opposite direction from whence it came, find its new speed (as a multiple of its original speed).
[Hint: the masses of the two objects are not given, but at some point in your math you will have to invoke the approximation that (M of Jupiter) >> (m of spacecraft).]
Answer: _______ x original speed
I am having trouble where I am solving for 1) Pi=Pf 2) KEi=KEf. If there is a simpler way then solving for 1 and plugging into the other please let me know as well.