1D three-body problem (with spherical shell)

In summary, there are two point particles with masses m1 and m2 and a spherical shell with mass M placed in a line at distances h1, h2, and H from the center of an inertial frame of reference. The initial conditions and equations of motion are given. The goal is to find the positions of the masses as functions of time and prove that m1 will remain in the center of the spherical shell. However, the system of differential equations is difficult to solve and there may be other methods to solve it.
  • #1
maxverywell
197
2
Let's suppose that we have two point particles with masses m1,m2 and the spherical shell with mass M, placed in a line, at distances h1,h2 and H from 0 in that line (0 is the center of some inertial frame of reference). The initial conditions and the equations of motion are the following:

[itex]h_1(0)=H(0)=h_0[/itex]

[itex]h_2(0)=0[/itex]

[itex]h_1'(0)=h_2'(0)=H'(0)=0[/itex] (time derivative)

(the mass m1 is in the center of the spherical shell at time t=0, but I'm trying to prove that for every t)[itex]\frac{d^2h_1(t)}{dt^2}=-G\frac{m_2}{(h_1-h_2)^2}[/itex]

[itex]\frac{d^2h_2(t)}{dt^2}=G\frac{m_1}{(h_1-h_2)^2}+G\frac{M}{(H-h_2)^2}[/itex]

[itex]\frac{d^2H(t)}{dt^2}=-G\frac{m_2}{(H-h_2)^2}[/itex]

Is there any way to solve this problem (to find the positions of the masses as functions of the time)?
 
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  • #2
Αnyone? At least tell me if this problem is solvable or not.
It seems quiet easy but the system off differential equantions is hard to solve. Is there any other way to solve it?

Actually what i am trying to prove is [itex]\frac{d^2 h_1(t)}{dt^2}=\frac{d^2 H(t)}{dt^2}[/itex] and that the mass m1 will remain in the center of spherical shell.
 

Related to 1D three-body problem (with spherical shell)

1. What is the "1D three-body problem with spherical shell"?

The "1D three-body problem with spherical shell" is a simplified version of the three-body problem in celestial mechanics. It involves three point masses moving in one dimension (along a line) and interacting with a spherical shell of mass placed at a fixed distance from the three masses.

2. What makes the "1D three-body problem with spherical shell" different from the traditional three-body problem?

The traditional three-body problem involves three point masses interacting with each other through gravitational forces. In the "1D three-body problem with spherical shell", the three masses interact with each other as well as with a fixed spherical shell, adding an extra component to the problem.

3. What are the main challenges in solving the "1D three-body problem with spherical shell"?

One of the main challenges in solving the "1D three-body problem with spherical shell" is the mathematical complexity of the problem. The interactions between the three masses and the spherical shell create a complex system of differential equations that cannot be solved analytically and require numerical methods.

4. What are some applications of the "1D three-body problem with spherical shell"?

The "1D three-body problem with spherical shell" has applications in astrophysics, specifically in studying the dynamics of celestial objects such as planets, moons, and stars. It can also be used to model the motion of particles in a fluid or gas, and in the field of molecular dynamics.

5. Are there any real-world examples of the "1D three-body problem with spherical shell"?

Yes, there are several real-world examples that can be modeled using the "1D three-body problem with spherical shell". For instance, the motion of a planet around a binary star system, or the interaction between a star and a binary black hole system. It can also be applied to study the dynamics of galaxies and their interactions with other celestial objects.

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