Last edited 2may01 by Edward Pernicka
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3Body: N-body problem which traces orbits

Abstract

This projects uses the skel environment to show the interactions of massive bodies in space. Each mass is given an initial velocity as well as a mass and initial position. The program then simulates what happens as gravity changes their trajectories using an Euler's method apporximation. The situation which is initially displayed is similar to that of an Earth, Moon, and Sun system, with the moon rotating about the Earth, which is rotating about the Sun. The program accomplishes this by using the gravity equation G*M1*M2/R^2 in vector form. For any given mass, the sum total of the induced acceleration by all the other masses determines its acceleration for that moment in time. An additional feature of my program is a tail which allows one to see the path of one of the objects.

Here is a picture of the orbit along with its tail .