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Free-fall F16

(1, 0.8, 0.4)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F16 (1, 0.8, 0.4) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.8 : 0.4 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 2.6549 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 4602), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.0000139 of each other at a top speed of 277, line up 24 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 2.9×10⁻²¹.

Measured over one period

Period: 2.654949189
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.4
Energy: -2.53761
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 1.4×10⁻⁵
Top speed: 277.1
Path length: 9.3623
Alignments per period: 24
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 4602)
Loop closure: 2.9×10⁻²¹

Neighbours on the map

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