Re: [Phys-l] Fun orbital problem

[Jack Uretsky <jlu@hep.anl.gov>]

Hi all-
	Am I missing something?  I see no reason why the two stars in the 
inner orbit need have the same mass.
			Regards,
				Jack



On Wed, 2 Jan 2008, Brian Whatcott wrote:

> At 12:35 PM 1/2/2008, Carl Mungan wrote:
> > > Apropos of nothing in particular, here's a fun problem whose
> > > solution  may raise more questions in your mind:
> > >
> > > Three particles interact only gravitationally, follow circular
> > > orbits, and remain at all times collinear.  The radii of two of the
> > > orbits is unity.  What is the radius of the third?
> > >
> > > John Mallinckrodt
> > > Cal Poly Pomona
> >
> > I think this is a solution:
> >
> > http://usna.edu/Users/physics/mungan/Scholarship/BinaryOrbit.pdf
> >
> > but let me know if you had something else in mind. -Carl
> > --
> > Carl E Mungan, Assoc Prof of Physics  410-293-6680 (O) -3729 (F)
> > Naval Academy Stop 9c, 572C Holloway Rd, Annapolis MD 21402-5002
> > mailto:mungan@usna.edu     http://usna.edu/Users/physics/mungan/
>
>
> Hmmmm...I supposed that one particle weighs much the same as another,
> so this would not be my conclusion. A third R more like 0.71 is what
> I had in mind.....
>   ...there again, fools rush in etc., etc.
>       :-)
>
> Brian W
>
>
>
> Brian Whatcott    Altus OK    Eureka!
>
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