Question

Two spherical asteroids have the same radius R. Asteroid 1 has mass M and asteroid 2 has mass 1.97·M. The two asteroids are released from rest with distance 13.63·R between their centers. What is the speed of second asteroid just before they collide? Give answer in units of (G·M/R)1/2.

Answer 1

`0.536\sqrt{(GM)/(R)}`

Step-by-step explanation:

We are given that

Mass of one asteroid 1,
`m_1=M`

Mass of asteroid 2,
`m_2=1.97 M`

Initial distance between their centers,d=13.63 R

Radius of each asteroid=R

d'=R+R=2R

Initial velocity of both asteroids

`u=0`

We have to find the speed of second asteroid just before they collide.

According to law of conservation of momentum

`(m_1+m_2)u=m_1v_1+m_2v_2`

`(M+1.97 M)* 0=Mv_1+1.97Mv_2`

`Mv_1=-1.97 Mv_2`

`v_1=-1.97v_2`

According to law of conservation of energy

`Gm_1m_2((1)/(d')-(1)/(d))=(1)/(2)m_1v^2_1+(1)/(2)m_2v^2_2`

`GM(1.97M)((1)/(2R)-(1)/(13.63R))=(1)/(2)M(-1.97v_2)^2+(1)/(2)(1.97M)v^2_2`

`1.97M^2G((13.63-2)/(27.26R))=(1)/(2)Mv^2_2(3.8809+1.97)`

`1.97MG((11.63)/(27.26 R))=(1)/(2)(5.8509)v^2_2`

`v^2_2=(1.97GM*11.63* 2)/(27.26R* 5.8509)`

`v_2=\sqrt{(1.97GM*11.63* 2)/(27.26R* 5.8509)}`

`v_2=0.536\sqrt{(GM)/(R)}`

Hence, the speed of second asteroid =
`0.536\sqrt{(GM)/(R)}`