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Free-fall F1

(1, 0.412, 0.267)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F1 (1, 0.412, 0.267) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.412 : 0.267 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 2.6985 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 1289), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.00000944 of each other at a top speed of 23, line up 12 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 6.0×10⁻²³.

Measured over one period

Period: 2.698540434
Masses: 1 : 0.412 : 0.267
Energy: -1.05423
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 9.4×10⁻⁶
Top speed: 229.5
Path length: 7.6231
Alignments per period: 12
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 1289)
Loop closure: 6.0×10⁻²³

Neighbours on the map

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