Question

Two identical geostationary satellites are moving with equal speed in the same orbit but their sense of rotation brings them on a collision course. The debris will

(1) Fall down

(2) Move up

(3) Move east to west in same orbit

(4) Move from West to East in same orbit

Answer 1

The collision (in the given problem) is bound to be inelastic.So kinetic energy will not be conserved. For the debris to move in a particular orbit,certain amount of kinetic energy is required.Due to the lack of required amount of kinetic energy, debris will be unable to move in the circular orbit.The gravitational force of attraction of earth will tend to pull the debris down.So debris will fall down.