A Two-Body-Problem with Changing Mass

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Thread starter Flor
Start date Jan 17, 2018
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Body Mass Newton

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In a classical two-body problem, gradually changing the mass of one body affects the gravitational interactions between the two bodies. If mass is lost suddenly, it can lead to unpredictable outcomes, as the dynamics of the system rely on consistent mass. For instance, the Sun's gradual mass loss causes the orbits of planets to expand slightly over time. Understanding these changes is crucial for accurately modeling orbital mechanics. The implications of mass variation must be carefully considered in any analysis of two-body systems.

Jan 17, 2018

Flor

Hi,

I would like to ask you what happens when you change (gradually) a mass of one body in a classical two-body-problem.

May it lead to such results?

Many thanks.

Flor

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Jan 18, 2018

mfb

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It depends on how you change the mass. The mass cannot suddenly disappear, what happens with it?

The Sun has a constant mass stream away from it, for example, as result the orbits of the planets get slightly larger.

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