How is the trajectory known with the comet losing debris (as the weight must be a factor) in the perihelion around the sun before it comes close to Earth. Will the comet slow down or speed up in it perihelion around the sun?
The mass (not the weight) is a factor, in practice the mass of the comet is so negligible compared to that of the Sun's that can be disregarded in the calculations.
Bodies in orbit speed up when around the periapsis, obeying the Kepler's second law.
The non-gravitational parameters which model the forces due to the ejection of mass and rotation of the comet are in this case high A1 = +8.93 +/- 0.12 , A2 assumed 0, where A1 regards the radial component of the forces and A2 the tangential component. See MPEC 2013 W16, this circular predicts a perihelion on 2013 Nov. 28.77929 taking into account these non gravitational effects.
If you have a look at MPEC 2013 W01 16/Nov/2013 the predicted perihelion is 2013 Nov. 28.77615 not taking into account non-gravitational effects, so the net effect seems to be a slight slow down of the comet before reaching perihelion.
http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K13/K13W16.html
http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K13/K13W01.html
Juan
Unfortunately the comet didn't survive the grazing approach to the Sun, we'll probably be able to observe the debris in the next few days.
It was a real shame it did not make it as one body, but there are some observers who are saying there more of the comet made it than they thought waiting for more information, checked NASA and other observatories more coming out by the hour.
The comet will speed up as it approaches the Sun, reach a Maximum at
it closest position to the Sun, and begin to slow down as it leaves the Sun.
As the Comet approaches the Sun, the vectors of Momentum, and gravitational
attraction form an angle of less than 90 degrees, when it is closest to the Sun the
Momentum vector ( velocity vector ) is exactly 90 degrees to the Sun's gravity
vector, and when the Comet is leaving the Sun, the two vectors form an angle
of more than 90 degrees.
Vectors have Magnitude ( Strength ), and Direction ( Arrows), that add or
subtract which governs ... speeding up (add), or slowing down (subtract).
At this point, I will push the button.....Add
You might want check the contributions to the literature due to Dr. Don Yeomans who is associated with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
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