Comets Move Around the Sun in Highly Elliptical Orbits. the Gravitational Force on the Comet Due to the Sun is Not Normal to the Comet’S Velocity in General. Yet the Work Done by the Gravitational Force Over Every Complete Orbit of the Comet is Zero. Why? - Physics

Answer the following:

Comets move around the sun in highly elliptical orbits. The gravitational force on the comet due to the sun is not normal to the comet’s velocity in general. Yet the work done by the gravitational force over every complete orbit of the comet is zero. Why?

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Solution 1

Gravitational force is a conservative force. Since the work done by a conservative force over a closed path is zero, the work done by the gravitational force over every complete orbit of a comet is zero.

Solution 2

This is because gravitational force is a conservative force. Work done by the gravitational ‘ force of the sun over a closed path in every complete orbit of the comet is zero.

Concept: The Concept of Potential Energy

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Chapter 6: Work, Energy and Power [Page 135]

Q 5.2 Q 5.1 Q 5.3

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