Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site mordor.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!umcp-cs!gymble!lll-crg!dual!mordor!@S1-A.ARPA,@MIT-MC.ARPA:linnig%ti-eg.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa From: @S1-A.ARPA,@MIT-MC.ARPA:linnig%ti-eg.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa Newsgroups: net.space Subject: Meeting in orbit -- A thought experiment Message-ID: <2058@mordor.UUCP> Date: Mon, 3-Jun-85 22:56:05 EDT Article-I.D.: mordor.2058 Posted: Mon Jun 3 22:56:05 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 6-Jun-85 11:00:45 EDT Sender: daemon@mordor.UUCP Lines: 23 From: Mike_Linnig > > > > Not if the force is along the velocity vector, at least. If you > > push away a mass along the velocity vector one object will go > > into a higher orbit and the other into a lower orbit. If the > > force is not along the velocity vector things get complex. > > Whoops! After exactly one orbit you will meet up again, and will every > orbit until one party or the other is disturbed. Sorry .... > Now wait a minute, suppose I throw a *BIG* rock fast enough to give myself escape velocity. When exactly, will I meet that rock again ? Since the last time I saw my rock it was heading away from me, and I am no longer in orbit........... "Thought experiments are wonderful things." -- Mike Linnig