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Free-fall F23

(1, 0.8, 0.2)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F23 (1, 0.8, 0.2) is a periodic orbit of the planar three-body problem: three masses in the ratio 1 : 0.8 : 0.2 that return to their starting positions and velocities every 2.8507 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 9371), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.0000272 of each other at a top speed of 217, line up 26 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 2.6×10⁻²².

Measured over one period

Period: 2.850661938
Masses: 1 : 0.8 : 0.2
Energy: -1.73307
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 2.7×10⁻⁵
Top speed: 216.9
Path length: 9.8286
Alignments per period: 26
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 9371)
Loop closure: 2.6×10⁻²²

Neighbours on the map

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