An asteroid approaches Saturn and is slung in a new trajectory with an orbit of e = 1.2 What might happen?
A). The asteroid continues out of the solar system.
B). The asteroid slows down as it passes around Jupiter.
C). The asteroid falls into an irregular orbit around Jupiter.
D). The asteroid adopts an unusual orbit around the sun, such as an egg shape.
Based on the given information, option C). The asteroid falls into an irregular orbit around Jupiter is the most likely outcome.
The correct answer is C). The asteroid falls into an irregular orbit around Jupiter.
When an asteroid approaches a planet like Saturn and is slung in a new trajectory with an eccentricity (e) greater than 1, it means that the asteroid's orbit is highly elliptical and no longer closed. This can result in the asteroid being captured by the gravitational pull of a larger celestial body, in this case, Jupiter.
Instead of continuing out of the solar system (option A), or slowing down as it passes around Jupiter (option B), the asteroid will enter into an irregular orbit around Jupiter. This irregular orbit will be due to the disruption caused by the close gravitational encounter with Saturn.
Thus, the most likely outcome is option C), the asteroid falls into an irregular orbit around Jupiter.
To determine what might happen to the asteroid when it approaches Saturn and is slung in a new trajectory with an eccentricity (e) of 1.2, let's examine the possible scenarios:
A) The asteroid continues out of the solar system.
For an asteroid to continue out of the solar system, it would typically require a velocity greater than the escape velocity of Saturn. If the asteroid does not gain enough speed during the slingshot maneuver around Saturn, it is unlikely to escape the gravitational pull of the planet and continue out of the solar system. Therefore, it is unlikely that this option would occur.
B) The asteroid slows down as it passes around Jupiter.
The slingshot maneuver, also known as gravitational assist or gravity assist, uses the gravity of a planet to increase or decrease an object's velocity. If the asteroid approaches Saturn with an extremely high eccentricity of 1.2, it would likely be traveling at a tremendous speed. In this case, it is plausible that as the asteroid passes around Jupiter, it could experience a decrease in velocity due to Jupiter's gravitational pull. However, it's important to note that the actual outcome would depend on various factors such as the asteroid's mass, velocity, and exact trajectory.
C) The asteroid falls into an irregular orbit around Jupiter.
If the asteroid approaches Saturn with an eccentricity of 1.2, it implies a highly elongated and non-circular orbit. During the slingshot maneuver around Saturn, if the asteroid passes close enough to Jupiter, it could experience a significant gravitational disturbance, potentially leading it into an irregular orbit around Jupiter. However, this outcome would depend on the precise trajectory and distance of the asteroid from Jupiter.
D) The asteroid adopts an unusual orbit around the sun, such as an egg shape.
If the asteroid's eccentricity is extremely high (e = 1.2), it indicates a strongly elongated orbit. The slingshot maneuver around Saturn could further alter its trajectory, causing the asteroid to adopt an unusual orbit around the sun, such as an elliptical shape with a high eccentricity. This elliptical orbit could resemble an "egg shape," as mentioned in option D.
In summary, while it is difficult to predict the exact outcome without precise details, options B, C, and D are more plausible than A, given the described scenario. The specific outcome would depend on factors such as the asteroid's initial velocity, mass, trajectory, and the gravitational effects from both Saturn and Jupiter.