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From: kort@hounx.UUCP (B.KORT)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: slingshot effect
Message-ID: <409@hounx.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 19-Nov-85 07:02:31 EST
Article-I.D.: hounx.409
Posted: Tue Nov 19 07:02:31 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 20-Nov-85 07:52:40 EST
References: <2358@watale.UUCP>, <381@faron.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 15

In the slingshot effect, does it help to resolve the velocity
of the spacecraft into two orthgonal components: a radial component
outward from the Sun, and an orbital component around the Sun?
(The planet has orbital velocity, but zero radial velocity.)  In
the interaction, is the planet ever-so-slightly deflected into a
perturbed orbit with a different mean radius about the Sun thereby
exchanging energy with the spacecraft, which undergoes an appreciable
change in both orbital and radial components of its velocity?  I'm not
about to dive into the equations on this one, but it seems that an
exchange of energy between the planet and the spacecraft must occur,
keeping the total (system) energy (kinetic plus potential) and
momentum (angular and radial) constant.  I would be grateful to know
if this line of reasoning leads toward a simplified analysis.
--Barry Kort