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Free-fall F1

(0.6, 0.8, 1)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F1 (0.6, 0.8, 1) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 0.6 : 0.8 : 1 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 2.6926 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 18.98), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.000557 of each other at a top speed of 44.9, line up 14 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 9.9×10⁻²⁶.

Measured over one period

Period: 2.692580337
Masses: 0.6 : 0.8 : 1
Energy: -2.69529
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 5.6×10⁻⁴
Top speed: 44.91
Path length: 8.9730
Alignments per period: 14
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 18.98)
Loop closure: 9.9×10⁻²⁶

Neighbours on the map

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