Undergrad Restricted three body problem (numerical simulation of gravitational attraction)

[Silviu]

Hello! I am implementing the three body restricted problem numerically (2 of them are massive and the 3rd one is not affecting them, so it is just moving in the potential created by them). I implemented it and if I put the 3rd one close to one of the big ones it moves in circles around it, while the big one moves around the center of mass of the 2 big ones, as expected. However I want to show the randomness of the system, but for all the initial conditions of the 3rd one (position, momentum and mass), it gets thrown out to infinity too fast (the ones I saw on the internet evolve for quite a while). I understand that this is random, but how can I choose the initial conditions so that it lasts longer (I actually need it for a presentation and I want to show it for half a minute or so). Thank you!

 

[DrStupid]

I'm afraid there is no general method to find the initial conditions. You need to play with the parameters. How about this?

 

[sandy stone]

I think these types of simulations can be very sensitive to rounding/truncation errors in the math. You might try using the highest precision available, if you're not doing that already.

 

[Jesperchristiansen]

Hello. Can you help me with creating such a simulation? I'm trying to create one myself.