Exams › JEE Main › Physics

A body A of mass m revolves in a circular orbit of radius R around a planet with instantaneous velocity v (vector). Another body B of mass m/2 strikes A with a velocity equal to half of A's instantaneous velocity (i.e. v/2, in the same direction as v). The collision is perfectly inelastic and the two stick together. After the collision the combined body:

1. moves in an elliptical orbit around the planet
2. keeps moving in the same circular orbit
3. falls straight down toward the planet
4. escapes the planet's gravitational field

Correct answer: moves in an elliptical orbit around the planet

Solution

After a tangential inelastic collision the combined body has a speed different from the circular-orbit value at R. Since the speed is less than circular speed but the body is still bound (below escape speed), the trajectory is an ellipse.

Related JEE Main Physics questions

• A satellite of mass m moves in a circular orbit around the Earth at an altitude x above the Earth's surface. If g denotes the acceleration due to gravity at the Earth's surface, then the satellite's orbital speed is
• A particle is launched vertically upward from Earth’s surface with speed equal to three-fourths of the escape speed. The maximum distance of the particle from the Earth’s center is (take Earth’s radius as R):
• If Earth’s radius became 1% smaller while its mass stayed unchanged, what would happen to the acceleration due to gravity at the surface?
• The Moon takes about 29 days to complete one revolution around the Earth. If the Moon’s mass were doubled while every other factor stayed the same, its orbital period would be approximately
• Let the Earth have mean radius R, angular velocity ω about its own axis, and surface gravitational acceleration g. The orbital radius of a geostationary satellite is:
• Assume the Earth is a uniform sphere. Scientist A descends into a mine, while scientist B rises in a balloon. As they move, the gravitational field experienced by A keeps decreasing and the field experienced by B also keeps decreasing. Which statement best describes their rates of decrease?

⚔️ Practice JEE Main Physics free + battle 1v1 →