In figure A a stationary spacecraft of mass M is passed by

Last updated: 6/11/2023

In figure A a stationary spacecraft of mass M is passed by asteroid A of mass m asteroid B of the same mass m and asteroid C of mass 2m The asteroids move along the indicated straight paths at the same speed the perpendicular distances between the spacecraft and the paths are given as multiples of R Figure B gives the gravitational potential energy U t of the spacecraft asteroid system during the passage of each asteroid treating time t 0 as the moment when separation is minimum Which asteroid corresponds to which plot of U t m A B 1 R 2R M R 7 2m Bm Figure A B A 2 U 7 Figure B C C 3 t D B 2