This is a challenging problem. Solve it on paper, writing out each step carefully. When doing calculations, do not round intermediate values. Note:
If you have approached the problem in a principled way, do not abandon your approach if your numerical answer is not accepted; check your
calculations!
This problem is closely related to the spectacular impact of the comet Shoemaker-Levy with Jupiter in July 1994.
A rock far outside a solar system similar to ours is initially moving very slowly relative to its sun, in the plane of the orbit of a large
planet (about the size of Jupiter) around its sun. The rock falls toward the sun, but on its way to the sun it collides with the planet. The
mass of the planet is 5 \times 10^{27} kg, the mass of its sun is 2.8 \times 10^{30} kg, the radius of the planet is 1.3 \times 10^{8} m, and the center-to-center
distance from the planet to the sun is 9.0 \times 10^{11} m.
Part 1
Your answer is incorrect.
(a) Calculate the rock's speed just before it collides with the planet.
