Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Re: [Phys-l] Fun orbital problem



Hi Jack,

Right you are. Thanks. Please amend the problem statement to read:

Three otherwise isolated 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

On Jan 2, 2008, at 3:39 PM, Jack Uretsky wrote:

Hi John-
The problem is incompletely stated. "Three particles interact
only gravitationally' does not exclude the presence of a fourth, or fifth,
or zillionth particle.
Regards,
Jack

On Wed, 2 Jan 2008, John Mallinckrodt 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