Closed Orbits

ADHITYA

The solutions to the two-body problem are orbits, in which the two masses follow conic sections through space relative to their center of mass. In this post, we will study closed orbits, where the masses eventually return to their initial position. This class of orbits describes rather well the orbits of planets around the Sun and the orbits of moons around planets. Our study of closed orbits will lead us to a few important result for Solar System dynamics, namely Kepler's Second and Third Laws.

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