First, we will set up the initial conditions.

The initial momentum of the

meteors can be given as:

p1i = m · v
p2i = 4m · v

The total momentum of the system is:

ptotali = p1i + p2i = m · v + 4m · (−v) = −3mv

Since the meteors stick together after the collision, their total mass after the
collision is 5m. Let their final velocity be vf . Thus, the final momentum of the
system is:

ptotalf = 5m · vf
Using the conservation of momentum principle:

ptotali = ptotalf

−3mv = 5m · vf
Divide both sides by 5m:
3
vf = − v
5
Now, we will use the conservation of mechanical energy principle. The initial
total mechanical energy of the system is:
1 1 1 5
Etotali = mv 2 + (4m)v 2 = m(1 + 4)v 2 = mv 2
2 2 2 2
The final total mechanical energy of the system is:
1
(5m)vf2
Etotalf =
2
Using the conservation of mechanical energy principle:

Etotali = Etotalf

5 1 3
mv 2 = (5m)(− v)2
2 2 5
Simplify:
9 2
v2 = ( )v
25

1
 Now, we use the fact that for a circular orbit, the centripetal acceleration is
equal to the gravitational acceleration:
GME
v2 =
r
Thus, the new orbit’s velocity squared is:
9 2 9GME
)v =
(
25 25r
Since the meteors are now in an elliptical orbit, we can use the vis-viva
equation:
2 1
vf2 = GME ( − )
ra a
where ra is the radius of closest approach and a is the semi-major axis of
the new orbit. Plugging in the expression for vf2 :
9GME 2 1
= GME ( − )
25r ra a
Divide both sides by GME :
9 2 1
= −
25r ra a
Since the meteors are now in an elliptical orbit, the semi-major axis a is
equal to the average of the closest and farthest points in the orbit:
r + ra
a=
2
Substitute this expression for a into the previous equation:

9 2 1
= − r+ra
25r ra 2
9 2 2
= −
25r ra r + ra
9 2(r + ra ) − 2ra
=
25r ra (r + ra )
9 2r
=
25r ra (r + ra )
9ra (r + ra ) = 50r
9ra2 + 9r2 = 50r

Now, substitute x = ra /r:

2
 9(xr)2 + 9r2 = 50r
9x2 + 9 = 50x

Solve for x using the quadratic formula:

√
−b ± b2 − 4ac
x=
p2a
50 ± (−50)2 − 4(9)(9)
x=
2(9)
√
50 ± 2500 − 324
x=
√ 18
50 ± 2176
x=
18
50 ± 46.6
x=
18
Choose the smaller value for x:
50 − 46.6 3.4
x= = ≈ 0.189
18 18
Closest approach of the new orbit to the center of Earth:
9
ra = x · r = r
41