$2.6.33.$ A science fiction story describes how, due to a small error in choosing the initial speed when launching from the Earth’s surface, an interplanetary ship crashes into the Sun. At what lowest speed on the Earth’s surface is this possible?
### Solution
The moment you throw stuff into space, orbital mechanics apply. Specifically, an object will go into an elliptical trajectory around the Sun. The best way to reach the Sun is to throw it retrograde from Earth's orbit. The other answers take this to an extreme level, throwing it retrograde at Earth's orbital velocity. The object will fall straight down. Luckily, we don't have to go that far.
The velocity at any point in orbit is determined by the equation:
\[ v = \sqrt{\mu\left( \frac{2}{r} - \frac{1}{a}\right)}\]
where:
-\( r \) is the distance from the Sun's center, and
-\( a \) is the semi-major axis, which is half the "cross-section" of the elliptic orbit.
In our case, we have an orbit where:
- The aphelion (furthest point) intersects with Earth's orbit.
@@ -19,18 +19,18 @@Solution
- The perihelion (nearest point) intersects exactly the surface of the Sun.
We take:
−
- The Sun's radius to be \( 695,700 \,\text{km}\),
−
- Earth's orbital radius \( r \) as \( 150 \,\text{million}\,\text{km}\).
+
- The Sun's radius to be \( 695,700 ~\text{km}\),
+
- Earth's orbital radius \( r \) as \( 150 ~\text{million}~\text{km}\).
The resulting velocity requirement is \( 2.8 \,\text{km/s}\) at aphelion. Earth travels around the Sun at about \( 29.8 \,\text{km/s}\). So, we need to throw the object with at least \( 27 \,\text{km/s}\).
+
The resulting velocity requirement is \( 2.8 ~\text{km/s}\) at aphelion. Earth travels around the Sun at about \( 29.8 ~\text{km/s}\). So, we need to throw the object with at least \( 27 ~\text{km/s}\).
Of course, we also need to escape Earth's gravity. The moment we throw something retrograde, Earth starts pulling it prograde, so the object gains kinetic energy again. To counteract this, we must throw the object with the extra kinetic energy required in excess of the gravitational potential energy.
−
The escape velocity of Earth is \( 11.2 \,\text{km/s}\). Since kinetic energy grows with the square of the throwing velocity, we find the new throwing velocity \( v_{\text{throw}}\):
+
The escape velocity of Earth is \( 11.2 ~\text{km/s}\). Since kinetic energy grows with the square of the throwing velocity, we find the new throwing velocity \( v_{\text{throw}}\):
__Note:__ Earth's trajectory is not exactly circular, so try and throw it at aphelion if you're planning on doing this for real.
A more detailed solution at [physics.stackexchange.com](https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/389431/minimal-velocity-to-throw-an-object-to-the-sun)
#### Answer: $v_{\text{min}} = 29 ~\text{km/s}$
unchanged lines 7
### Statement
### Statement
$2.6.33.$ A science fiction story describes how, due to a small error in choosing the initial speed when launching from the Earth’s surface, an interplanetary ship crashes into the Sun. At what lowest speed on the Earth’s surface is this possible?
$2.6.33.$ A science fiction story describes how, due to a small error in choosing the initial speed when launching from the Earth’s surface, an interplanetary ship crashes into the Sun. At what lowest speed on the Earth’s surface is this possible?
### Solution
### Solution
The moment you throw stuff into space, orbital mechanics apply. Specifically, an object will go into an elliptical trajectory around the Sun. The best way to reach the Sun is to throw it retrograde from Earth's orbit. The other answers take this to an extreme level, throwing it retrograde at Earth's orbital velocity. The object will fall straight down. Luckily, we don't have to go that far.
The moment you throw stuff into space, orbital mechanics apply. Specifically, an object will go into an elliptical trajectory around the Sun. The best way to reach the Sun is to throw it retrograde from Earth's orbit. The other answers take this to an extreme level, throwing it retrograde at Earth's orbital velocity. The object will fall straight down. Luckily, we don't have to go that far.
The velocity at any point in orbit is determined by the equation:
The velocity at any point in orbit is determined by the equation:
\[ v = \sqrt{\mu\left( \frac{2}{r} - \frac{1}{a}\right)}\]
\[ v = \sqrt{\mu\left( \frac{2}{r} - \frac{1}{a}\right)}\]
where:
where:
-\( r \) is the distance from the Sun's center, and
-\( r \) is the distance from the Sun's center, and
-\( a \) is the semi-major axis, which is half the "cross-section" of the elliptic orbit.
-\( a \) is the semi-major axis, which is half the "cross-section" of the elliptic orbit.
In our case, we have an orbit where:
In our case, we have an orbit where:
- The aphelion (furthest point) intersects with Earth's orbit.
- The aphelion (furthest point) intersects with Earth's orbit.
@@ -19,18 +19,18 @@Solution
- The perihelion (nearest point) intersects exactly the surface of the Sun.
- The perihelion (nearest point) intersects exactly the surface of the Sun.
We take:
We take:
- The Sun's radius to be \( 695,700 \,\text{km}\),
- The Sun's radius to be \( 695,700 ~\text{km}\),
- Earth's orbital radius \( r \) as \( 150 \,\text{million}\,\text{km}\).
- Earth's orbital radius \( r \) as \( 150 ~\text{million}~\text{km}\).
The resulting velocity requirement is \( 2.8 \,\text{km/s}\) at aphelion. Earth travels around the Sun at about \( 29.8 \,\text{km/s}\). So, we need to throw the object with at least \( 27 \,\text{km/s}\).
The resulting velocity requirement is \( 2.8 ~\text{km/s}\) at aphelion. Earth travels around the Sun at about \( 29.8 ~\text{km/s}\). So, we need to throw the object with at least \( 27 ~\text{km/s}\).
Of course, we also need to escape Earth's gravity. The moment we throw something retrograde, Earth starts pulling it prograde, so the object gains kinetic energy again. To counteract this, we must throw the object with the extra kinetic energy required in excess of the gravitational potential energy.
Of course, we also need to escape Earth's gravity. The moment we throw something retrograde, Earth starts pulling it prograde, so the object gains kinetic energy again. To counteract this, we must throw the object with the extra kinetic energy required in excess of the gravitational potential energy.
The escape velocity of Earth is \( 11.2 \,\text{km/s}\). Since kinetic energy grows with the square of the throwing velocity, we find the new throwing velocity \( v_{\text{throw}}\):
The escape velocity of Earth is \( 11.2 ~\text{km/s}\). Since kinetic energy grows with the square of the throwing velocity, we find the new throwing velocity \( v_{\text{throw}}\):
__Note:__ Earth's trajectory is not exactly circular, so try and throw it at aphelion if you're planning on doing this for real.
__Note:__ Earth's trajectory is not exactly circular, so try and throw it at aphelion if you're planning on doing this for real.
A more detailed solution at [physics.stackexchange.com](https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/389431/minimal-velocity-to-throw-an-object-to-the-sun)
A more detailed solution at [physics.stackexchange.com](https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/389431/minimal-velocity-to-throw-an-object-to-the-sun)
