Mechanics of particles and systems Particle systems and celestial mechanics Problem
Circular restricted three-body problem
Builds on Three-body problemTwo-body problemRotating reference frameHamiltonian systemFirst integralChaos theory
Problem
Let . Two bodies, the primaries, have masses and . They move on circles around their common centre of mass, at distance from each other and with angular velocity . This is a circular solution of the two-body problem, in units where the gravitational constant times the total mass is . A third body of negligible mass moves in their gravitational field and does not affect them. Use the rotating frame in which the primaries stay at and . In this frame the position of the third body satisfies where and and are the distances to the primaries. Given the initial position and velocity of the third body, describe its motion for all time.
Remarks
The problem is a limit case of the three-body problem in which one mass tends to . It is a Hamiltonian system with three degrees of freedom, or two in the planar case . Its Hamiltonian does not depend on time, because the frame rotates with the primaries. The quantity is a first integral, the Jacobi integral. Check: multiplying the three equations by and adding gives , since the Coriolis terms cancel. Poincaré showed that the problem has no further analytic first integral, and its motion is in general chaotic. There are five equilibrium points in the rotating frame, the Lagrange points. The model describes, to a first approximation, a spacecraft in the Earth–Moon system or an asteroid moving under the Sun and Jupiter.
Reading path
To understand this page from the ground up, read these 73 pages in order. The foundations come first.
- Chaos theory concept
- Conic section concept
- Cross product concept
- Derivative concept
- Differential equation concept
- Ellipse concept
- Euclidean space object
- Euclidean vector concept
- First integral concept
- Focus of a conic concept
- Function concept
- Hamiltonian system concept
- Identity matrix object
- Interval concept
- Matrix definition
- Ordinary differential equation concept
- Vector space definition
- Velocity concept
- Kepler problem example
- Fréchet derivative definition
- Cross product definition
- Ordinary differential equation definition
- Function of several variables concept
- Vector-valued function concept
- Lipschitz condition definition
- Classical mechanics concept
- n-body problem problem
- Square matrix definition
- Transpose definition
- Linear map definition
- Momentum concept
- Double integral concept
- Partial derivative concept
- Limit of a function of several variables concept
- Inertial frame of reference concept
- Solution of an ordinary differential equation definition
- Orthogonal matrix definition
- Three-body problem problem
- Multilinear map definition
- Triple integral concept
- Newton's laws of motion statement
- Continuity in R^n definition
- Differentiable function of several variables definition
- Initial value problem definition
- Partial derivative definition
- Orthogonal group object
- Alternating multilinear map definition
- Centre of mass concept
- Differentiable on an open set definition
- Gradient definition
- Higher partial derivatives definition
- Picard–Lindelöf hypotheses definition
- Determinant definition
- Reduced mass concept
- Iterated derivative definition
- Picard operator definition
- Special orthogonal group object
- Angular velocity concept
- C^k function characterised by continuous derivatives statement
- Integral equation form of an initial value problem statement
- An iterate of the Picard operator is a contraction statement
- Rotating reference frame concept
- Vector field definition
- Picard–Lindelöf theorem statement
- Conservative vector field definition
- Classical mechanics definition
- Momentum definition
- Potential energy definition
- Angular momentum definition
- Central force definition
- Newton's law of universal gravitation statement
- Two-body problem problem
- Circular restricted three-body problem problem
Where this leads
7 pages build on this one.
Further reading
- Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-body_problem, Restricted three-body problem
About this page
| Tag | Y2R2QRPD1B |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://Y2R2QRPD1B |
| Kind | problem |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 70F07, 70F15, 37N05 |
| Status | This copy of the site has no build data. Run m2 status Y2R2QRPD1B. |
| About | Three-body problem |
| Uses | Three-body problem, Two-body problem, Rotating reference frame, Hamiltonian system, First integral, Chaos theory |
| Changed | 3 November 2026 |
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