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Free-fall F31

(1, 0.8, 0.6)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F31 (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 4.168 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 214.5), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.000205 of each other at a top speed of 66.8, line up 30 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 8.7×10⁻²⁵.

Measured over one period

Period: 4.168002523
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.6
Energy: -2.98067
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 2.0×10⁻⁴
Top speed: 66.81
Path length: 14.285
Alignments per period: 30
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 214.5)
Loop closure: 8.7×10⁻²⁵

Neighbours on the map

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