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Free-fall F14

(1, 0.1, 0.01)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F14 (1, 0.1, 0.01) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.1 : 0.01 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 4.1808 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 931.8), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.00000657 of each other at a top speed of 549, line up 28 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.9×10⁻²³.

Measured over one period

Period: 4.180840964
Masses: 1 : 0.1 : 0.01
Energy: -0.117428
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 6.6×10⁻⁶
Top speed: 548.9
Path length: 9.2475
Alignments per period: 28
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 931.8)
Loop closure: 1.9×10⁻²³

Neighbours on the map

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