JEE Main 2019 Physics question
A satellite of mass M is in a circular orbit of radius R about the centre of the earth. A meteorite of the same mass, falling towards the earth, collides with the satellite completely inelastically. The speeds of the satellite and the meteorite are the same, just before the collision. The subsequent motion of the combined body will be:
Answer: (D)
Solution
The combined velocity v/√2 has a radial component and is less than escape speed: the orbit becomes elliptical.