This is my planet .. my .. home?
This looks like the Sun, which provides the essential energy to my environment..
Apparently, there is something called the gravitational force..
This force is described by the formula
So on objects that have a large mass, like the sun and my planet, this force is HUGE!
Now there are two suns in the solar system..
They have similar mass.
So, I think they exert similar force onto each
other..
Their motion looks kind of stable, right..?
Is this how my planet will orbit this two-body solar system?
Now there are three suns in the solar system..
They all have similar mass.
So .. right! Similar force on each other!
Wait!? This is so chaotic..
What is going on?
The rotation of the three celestial bodies is highly unpredictable. It is a classical mathematical conundrum in physics. The interactions of the three celestial bodies interacting only under the consideration of gravitational forces. The problem here is to predict their movements over time, which becomes extremely complex due to the nonlinear nature of gravitational interactions. The advantage of demonstrating this problem through visualization is to provide a clear image of the chaotic cycle. Apart from the traditional explanation that is mostly compiled with words and lengthy formulas. Most important takeaway is the understanding of chaotic behavior, from the increase of one to three celestial body systems. The entropy in the system increases, causing things to be highly unpredictable. This is not well suited for the development of civilizations, we need to find a way out...
For an interactive version, scroll down for the playground.