Abstract
The three-body problem is one of the simplest puzzles in nature. It may be stated very simply but the solution can be extremely hard. The formulation of the problem is as follows: Let us introduce three point-like bodies with given mass values, and say that they attract each other by the universal law of gravitation. We assume that the initial positions and velocities are known. Our task is to predict their coordinates and velocities in an arbitrary time in the future or in the past. The problem is simple, but as we have seen in previous chapters, the solution is not. Many famous scientists beginning from Isaac Newton tried to solve this puzzle. For a long time, all attempts failed except in special cases.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Valtonen, M., Anosova, J., Kholshevnikov, K., Mylläri, A., Orlov, V., Tanikawa, K. (2016). Three Body Problem in Perspective. In: The Three-body Problem from Pythagoras to Hawking. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22726-9_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22726-9_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-22725-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-22726-9
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)