Classical Mechanics - Special Interest Problem

This week's SIP comes directly from the homework assignment. You wish to dispose of a payload of nuclear waste by either sending it out of the solar system or crashing it into the sun. Which is the most efficient method? That is, which requires the least velocity boost, Dv? There are two problems to consider.

1. Sending it out of the solar system requires that the payload achieve escape velocity ... escape from the sun's gravitational pull. Assume that the payload is far from the Earth, but in the Earth's orbit with Earth's orbital speed.

2. Sending the payload into the sun is done most efficiently with the Hohmann transfer. Again, assume the payload starts from an Earth orbit but far from earth. To assure that no part of the payload ever makes it back to Earth, assume the perihelion of the transfer ellipse to be the radius of the sun.

Hardcopy entries should be submitted in class by noon on Monday of next week. Answers should be concise but complete.