Atlas2,365 of 3,915

Free-fall F2

(1, 0.1, 0.01)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F2 (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 4.1716 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 863.6), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.0000251 of each other at a top speed of 16, line up 16 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 4.3×10⁻²⁴.

Measured over one period

Period: 4.171647007
Masses: 1 : 0.1 : 0.01
Energy: -0.114842
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 2.5×10⁻⁵
Top speed: 160.2
Path length: 8.8416
Alignments per period: 16
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 863.6)
Loop closure: 4.3×10⁻²⁴

Neighbours on the map

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