Atlas2,407 of 3,915

Free-fall F3

(1, 0.1, 0.01)

From Li & Liao (2019)

Free-fall F3 (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 3.979 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 62764), so a small nudge makes it unravel over a few periods. The bodies pass within 0.000415 of each other at a top speed of 66.2, line up 12 times a period, and the computed loop closes to 1.2×10⁻²⁶.

Measured over one period

Period: 3.979046955
Masses: 1 : 0.1 : 0.01
Energy: -0.117114
Angular momentum: 0
Closest approach: 4.2×10⁻⁴
Top speed: 66.16
Path length: 7.5450
Alignments per period: 12
Stability: unstable (|λ|max 62764)
Loop closure: 1.2×10⁻²⁶

Neighbours on the map

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