A Comet's Orbit

by Eric Williams

Submitted : Spring 2010

This project is designed to study comet orbit, specifically its velocity. Given only the center of orbit and one point on the ellipse, basic geometry allows the comet?s position along its orbit to be plotted. Then, utilizing geometric distance and the vis-viva equation, velocity is found. Three dimensional analysis concludes the calculations of the project. It is concluded that the comet accelerates to its perihelion, then decelerates.

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