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Free-fall F27

(1, 0.1, 0.01)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F27 (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 7.8652 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 71617), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.000204 of each other at a top speed of 98.4, line up 24 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.2×10⁻²⁵.

Measured over one period

Period: 7.865208456
Masses: 1 : 0.1 : 0.01
Energy: -0.120687
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 2.0×10⁻⁴
Top speed: 98.41
Path length: 18.825
Alignments per period: 24
Topology: 0 (free-group class)
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 71617)
Loop closure: 1.2×10⁻²⁵

Neighbours on the map

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