An asteroid approaches Jupiter and is slung around into a new trajectory across the solar system. Which of the following is possible?
O The asteroid slows down as it passes around Jupiter.
O The asteroid continues out of the solar system.
O The asteroid adopts an unusual orbit around the sun, such as an egg shape.
O The asteroid falls into an irregular orbit around Jupiter.
All four options are possible outcomes when an asteroid is slung around Jupiter into a new trajectory:
1. The asteroid can slow down as it passes around Jupiter due to gravitational interactions, similar to the slingshot effect.
2. The asteroid can continue out of the solar system if its velocity is sufficiently increased by the gravitational assist from Jupiter.
3. The asteroid can adopt an unusual orbit around the Sun, such as an egg shape, if its trajectory is significantly altered by Jupiter's gravity.
4. The asteroid can indeed fall into an irregular orbit around Jupiter if its trajectory is not significantly altered but rather becomes captured by Jupiter's gravitational pull.
All of the options mentioned are possible outcomes when an asteroid approaches Jupiter and is slung around into a new trajectory across the solar system. Here is a step-by-step explanation:
1. The asteroid slows down as it passes around Jupiter (Possible outcome):
When the asteroid approaches Jupiter, the massive gravity of the planet will affect the asteroid's speed. Due to gravitational forces, the asteroid's velocity might decrease as it passes around Jupiter.
2. The asteroid continues out of the solar system (Possible outcome):
Depending on the angle and speed at which the asteroid approaches Jupiter, it is possible that the gravitational slingshot effect from the planet could give the asteroid enough speed to escape the gravitational pull of the Sun. In such a scenario, the asteroid would continue its trajectory and eventually leave the solar system.
3. The asteroid adopts an unusual orbit around the Sun, such as an egg shape (Possible outcome):
As the asteroid passes close to Jupiter, it might be influenced by the planet's gravity, causing its trajectory to be altered. This can result in the asteroid adopting a new orbit around the Sun, which might be unusual or elliptical in shape.
4. The asteroid falls into an irregular orbit around Jupiter (Possible outcome):
If the asteroid's approach trajectory and speed are such that it gets captured by Jupiter's gravity, it can end up in an irregular orbit around the planet. This would mean that the asteroid would not continue its journey across the solar system but remain in a stable or semi-stable orbit around Jupiter.
Therefore, all of the options mentioned (O The asteroid slows down as it passes around Jupiter, O The asteroid continues out of the solar system, O The asteroid adopts an unusual orbit around the sun, such as an egg shape, and O The asteroid falls into an irregular orbit around Jupiter) are possible outcomes for an asteroid when it approaches Jupiter and is slung around into a new trajectory across the solar system.
The correct answer is "The asteroid adopts an unusual orbit around the sun, such as an egg shape."
When an asteroid approaches Jupiter and is slung around, the gravitational interaction with Jupiter can significantly alter the asteroid's trajectory. Jupiter's immense gravity can cause the asteroid to change its path and adopt a new orbit around the sun. This new orbit may not be perfectly circular as the asteroid's original orbit, resulting in an irregular or elliptical shape, sometimes referred to as an "egg shape". Therefore, the option "The asteroid adopts an unusual orbit around the sun, such as an egg shape" is possible in this scenario.
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