Atlas2,378 of 3,942

Free-fall F3

(1, 0.8, 0.6)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F3 (1, 0.8, 0.6) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.8 : 0.6 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 2.737 time units, published by Li & Liao (2019). Three bodies released from rest fall together, swing past each other and return to rest exactly where they started. It is unstable (largest Floquet multiplier 1345), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.00495 of each other at a top speed of 12.5, line up 10 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.1×10⁻²⁷.

Measured over one period

Period: 2.736978708
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.6
Energy: -2.02502
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 0.004950
Top speed: 12.47
Path length: 7.6988
Alignments per period: 10
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 1345)
Loop closure: 1.1×10⁻²⁷

Neighbours on the map

All Free-fall orbits, the families of periodic three-body orbits, or the atlas map.