Newton's Law of Gravity and Potential Energy

[G01]

2 Jupiter sized planets are released [tex] 1.0 X 10^11 [/tex] m What are their speeds as they crash together?
I decided to try to do this problem with Potential Energy from Newtons law of gravity that is
[tex] U_{g} = \frac{\-GMM}{r} [/tex]
I set the 0 of potential energy at the point when the planet's center's crash together. So the change in potential will be the starting point minus the point when the planets just hit (when the distance between them is twice the radius of Jupiter- their outer edges are just touching). Mathmatically this is:
[tex] \Delta U_{g} = \frac{\-GMM}{1.0014 X 10^11 m} - \frac{\-GMM}{1.398 X 10^8} [/tex]
Now I should be able to just set the change in kinetic energy equal to the change in potential, but I'm not gettign the right answer. Can someone show me what's wrong with my reasoning. For anyone who has the book this problem is in Knight Chapter 12 #49. Thanks Alot.

 

[G01]

sorry in the second latex line the first term should be negative with the second term positive i think. And in the first line taht should be [tex] 1.0X10^(11) m [/tex] (im not to good at latex yet )

 

[andrewchang]

did you make sure that both planets have kinetic energy? you may need to show some more work.

[tex] U_i = \frac {-GMM}{1 \times 10^{11} m} [/tex]

[tex] U_f = \frac {-GMM}{2(radius of jupiter)} [/tex]

i think you already have this down so far.

[tex] U = KE_1 + KE_2 [/tex]
[tex] KE_1 = KE_2 [/tex]
[tex] U = 2KE [/tex]
[tex] \Delta U = 2 KE [/tex]

 

[G01]

the way i was thinking is that both planets move the same distance in relation to each other and they'd both have the same KE. What your saying though is that each planet would have half of the kinetic energy. I guess that makes sense. Let me try it I'll post when i come up with anything.

 

[G01]

OK that was my problem. I don't know why i didn't see that in the first place. Thanks a lot andrew you were a big help!

 

[kant]

2 Jupiter sized planets are released [tex] 1.0 X 10^11 [/tex] m What are their speeds as they crash together?
I decided to try to do this problem with Potential Energy from Newtons law of gravity that is
[tex] U_{g} = \frac{\-GMM}{r} [/tex]
I set the 0 of potential energy at the point when the planet's center's crash together. So the change in potential will be the starting point minus the point when the planets just hit (when the distance between them is twice the radius of Jupiter- their outer edges are just touching). Mathmatically this is:
[tex] \Delta U_{g} = \frac{\-GMM}{1.0014 X 10^11 m} - \frac{\-GMM}{1.398 X 10^8} [/tex]
Now I should be able to just set the change in kinetic energy equal to the change in potential, but I'm not gettign the right answer. Can someone show me what's wrong with my reasoning. For anyone who has the book this problem is in Knight Chapter 12 #49. Thanks Alot.

The system is under the influence of gravity alone, so we one can relate the initial and final state of their velocity, and position using the conservation of mechanical energy.