Activities
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On the left one can see the effective potential energy corresponding
to the equivalent one-dimensional problem (in red).
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Use the mouse (or the corresponding numerical entries) to change
the mechanical energy E and the initial value of the polar
distance r: the polar angle φ (phi in
the simulation) will be set automatically.
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Discuss the values of the eccentricity ε (e)
and the form of the orbit for different values of E.
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Uncheck Attracting and discuss what happens with repulsive
forces.
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Change orbit's spatial orientation by choosing the pericentron
position φ0 (called per in the
simulation) or use the following procedure.
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The plane relative motion is displayed on the right. Use the mouse to
select the initial position and the orbit orientation.
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With the simultaneous evolutions in the double display you can check
that the return points of the one-dimensional problem correspond in
the full problem to apses, where the velocity does not vanish, but is
perpendicular to the radius.