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Free-fall F54

(1, 0.8, 0.6)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F54 (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 6.3528 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 4399), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.0029 of each other at a top speed of 17.3, line up 34 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 7.7×10⁻²⁶.

Measured over one period

Period: 6.352809743
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.6
Energy: -2.49868
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 0.002896
Top speed: 17.28
Path length: 22.483
Alignments per period: 34
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 4399)
Loop closure: 7.7×10⁻²⁶

Neighbours on the map

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