this post was submitted on 13 Oct 2023
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The Parker Solar Probe's new top speed could get you from NYC to LA in just 20 seconds. It's not done yet.

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[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Drop a ball. It goes fastest just before and after it hits the ground, and slows down until it gets back to near the height you dropped it from

The probe is the ball, and slingshotting around the sun is like bouncing off the ground. The potential energy (height of ball/distance from sun) gets converted to and from kinetic energy (speed).

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

That's a pretty good answer. I was definitely overthinking it.

A little correction. They would be slingshotting around either Venus, Mercury, or both to lose energy.

Going around the sun is like just bouncing a perfectly elastic ball.

Close enough for this mental model, though.

Edit: in my own defense I am in Vegas doing minor Vegas things.

While I'd really rather be talking about orbital mechanics or some other geek shit, I do get to see an annular eclipse in totality in a beautiful national park. That's certainly a once in a lifetime event.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Seeing an annular eclipse is an excellent application of orbital mechanics! Enjoy!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I intend to. Provided I don't get trapped in the desert for days. We're bringing extra food, water, and eclipse glasses to auction to the highest bidder, though.

We didn't even plan this. The opportunity came up before I even knew that I could take a tour and see this.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Glad you are having fun. I never want to fly through Vegas again. That airport was outrageous, even by airport standards. Ended up paying $45 for a Shake Shack meal. Thankfully I had my rolling machine, tubes, and tobacco. They wanted $20 per pack of cigarettes, I forgot my lighter though, and paid $10 for a BiC lighter.