Two-Body Problem & Circular Restricted

Three-Body Problem (CR BP)

Name : Shivani Sharma

Roll no:

University of Delhi

Shaheed Bhagat Singh College

. Index / Table of Contents

Introduction Historical Two-Body Three-Body Restricted Three-

Background Problem Problem Body Problem &

CR BP
 . Introduction (What & Why)

Celestial mechanics = motions of bodies under mutual gravity.

Applies Newton ’s laws to planets, moons, spacecraft, binary stars.

Explains solar-system architecture & enables $ B space economy.

Essential for satellite navigation, climate monitoring, planetary defense.

Bridge between physics and astronomy; reveals chaos in physical systems.

. Historical Background

Newton - Kepler Euler

Principia & universal gravitation. three empirical laws from two-body closed solution;

Tycho ’s data.
Lagrange: five equilibrium

points.

Bruns Tsiolkovsky SOHO, JWST

only integrals; rocketry + Lagrange points; operational Lagrange-point

missions.
Poincaré: non-integrability & s Apollo: free-return via

chaos. CR BP.
 . Two-Body: Definition

The classical two-body problem involves analyzing the motion of two masses interacting solely under their mutual

gravitational attraction, assumed to be isolated from external influences.

Each body traces a well-defined orbit, which can be described geometrically as a conic section (circle, ellipse, parabola,

or hyperbola) about their common barycenter.

This problem forms the conceptual and mathematical foundation for understanding planets orbiting stars, moons

around planets, binary star systems, and even probes traveling between planetary bodies.
. Two-Body: Assumptions

The primary assumptions include treating each body as a point mass or a

spherically symmetric mass distribution, meaning gravitational attraction acts

as if all mass is concentrated at the center. This simplifies force calculations

and avoids complications due to non-spherical shapes or mass anomalies.

The gravitational interaction follows Newton ’ s inverse-square law, excluding

non-gravitational forces such as atmospheric drag, solar radiation pressure,

thrust from engines, relativistic effects, and oblateness of bodies (flattening

due to rotation).

The masses are considered constant, ignoring mass changes from processes

like fuel consumption or mass ejection. The system is analyzed in an inertial

(non-accelerating) barycentric coordinate frame centered on the common

center of mass.

These simplifying assumptions allow the derivation of exact analytic solutions

and lead to the classical Kepler laws governing orbital motion, which are

foundational to astrodynamics and celestial navigation.

 . Two-Body: Equations of

Motion

m ₁r̈₁ = + G m₁ m₂ r / r³ ;

m ₂r̈₂ = ‒ G m₁ m₂ r / r³ where(r = r ₂ ‒ r₁)

→
By subtracting these two vector equations, one obtains a single relative

motion equation for the vector ̈r = ‒ μ r / r³ with μ = G (m ₁ + m₂)

These equations are fundamental to orbital dynamics and can be

expressed compactly in vector form, enabling their transformation into

any coordinate system — inertial, rotating, or orbital frames — as needed

for diverse applications.

 . Two-Body: Relative

Motion & Reduced Mass

To simplify the two-body problem further, we introduce the

reduced mass, we define r = r ₂ ‒ r₁ and μ

̂ = m₁ m₂ / (m₁ + m₂)

Equivalent one-body equation: ̈r + μ r / r³ =

Meanwhile, the center of mass, or barycenter, remains stationary

or moves uniformly, providing a convenient inertial reference

frame.
 . Two-Body: Angular Momentum & Orbit Formula

Specific angular momentum h = r × v = constant ⇒ planar motion

This constancy allows defining the orbital plane orientation and predicting future positions.

The orbit equation in polar coordinates : r( θ ) = h² / μ / ( + e cos θ )

Eccentricity e and semilatus p = h² / μ set shape & size.

This formulation recovers Kepler ’s first two laws analytically: planetary orbits are conic sections (First Law), and the radius
vector sweeps equal areas in equal times, corresponding to conservation of angular momentum (Second Law).
 . Two-Body: Energy Law

Specific mechanical energy ε = v²/ ‒ μ / r = ‒ μ / ( a) ∀ conics

Negative energy indicates bound orbits (ellipses and circles) ( ε< )

zero energy defines marginally bound parabolic trajectories ( ε= ),

and positive energy corresponds to unbound hyperbolic escape trajectories ( ε> )

Same ε ⇒ same orbital period (bound cases) regardless of e. Energy + angular momentum fully classify orbit family.
 . Two-Body: Circular Orbit

(e = )

Constant radius r = a

√μ
π√
speed v = ( / a)

Period T = (a³ / μ ) — Kepler ’s rd law

Minimum energy for given a; used for GEO, LEO parking.

Stable to small perturbations: radial oscillations stay bounded.

 . Two-Body: Elliptical Orbit ( < e < )

Periapsis r ₚ=a( ‒ e) ; apoapsis r ₐ=a( + e)

Speed varies between √μ [ ( + e) / a ( ‒ e)] and √μ

[ ( ‒ e) / a ( + e)]

Energy depends only on a; Orientation set by h and e

 . Two-Body: Parabolic Orbit (e = )

Parabolic trajectories represent the threshold between bound and unbound orbits, with zero total mechanical energy ( ε= ) and the semi-major axis (a)

tending toward infinity.

Marginally bound ε= ; a →∞
Radius r( θ) = p / ( + cos θ) opens to infinity.

Escape speed at any radius v ₑ= √ ( μ / r)

Parabolic orbits provide useful approximations for designing spacecraft escape trajectories and understanding comet paths or interstellar object flybys, serving

as a practical boundary case between captured and escaping trajectories.

 . Two-Body: Hyperbolic Orbit (e > )

Hyperbolic trajectories are open orbits with positive total mechanical energy, representing escape or flyby paths relative to the

gravitating body.

Positive energy ε > ; hyperbolic excess speed v ∞ √

= ( ε )

Turning angle δ = arcsin ( / e) sets gravity-assist deflection.

Used by Voyager, Parker Solar Probe for free Δ v.

Short residence inside planetary sphere of influence.

 . Three-Body: Definition

The three-body problem involves three masses interacting via Newtonian gravity without any simplifying constraints. Unlike the two-body

problem, the equations of motion couple nonlinearly producing an -dimensional state space (three positions and velocities per mass).

Only classical integrals of motion exist (energy, momentum, angular momentum components), but are required to fully close the

system, rendering the problem non-integrable in general. The three-body problem is fundamentally complex and is the simplest example

exhibiting chaotic gravitational dynamics.

Even the planar case, where bodies move in a single plane, shows extreme sensitivity to initial conditions — tiny changes propagate

exponentially resulting in widely differing trajectories, making analytical closed-form universal solutions impossible. This chaotic nature has

profound implications for orbital stability and long-term predictions in astronomy and mission design.
 . Three-Body: No General

Solution

Because there is no general closed-form solution, numerical simulations

tailored to specific scenarios are used in practice. These compute

trajectories step-by-step but lack universal formulas applicable to all

three-body interactions.

Modern approaches to the three-body problem leverage geometrical

methods, bifurcation maps, and statistical ensembles to identify stable

and unstable orbital configurations, resonances, and chaotic regions,

deepening understanding of orbital stability in planetary systems and star

clusters.

The problem historically stimulated the development of chaos theory and

remains at the forefront of dynamical systems research, influencing not

only astrophysics but also mathematics and applied physics fields.

 . Restricted Three-Body

Problem (R BP)

≪
The restricted three-body problem simplifies the three-body problem by

assuming the third mass m ₃ m ₁, m₂; it moves under the gravitational

influence of the two primaries but does not perturb their motion. The

primaries follow a fixed two-body orbit, typically chosen as circular for

simplicity, reducing the system to six dimensions.

This approximation models scenarios such as spacecraft orbiting the

Earth-Moon system, asteroids influenced by the Sun-Jupiter pair, or dust

particles trapped in star-planet systems. It renders the problem tractable

without losing essential dynamical richness.

 . R BP Types

Elliptic R BP: primaries on Kepler ellipse e ₚ ≠ ; Circular R BP (CR BP): e ₚ= → autonomous.

time-periodic equations.

Parabolic / hyperbolic R BP
 . Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem

(CR BP)

Synodic frame rotates with ω = ; m ₁ at (‒μ, , ), m ₂ at ( ‒μ , , ),

μ = m ₂ / (m₁ + m₂)
Effective potential Ω (x, y, z) = ( ‒μ )/r ₁ + μ/r₂ + ½(x² + y²)

∂Ω ∂ ∂Ω ∂ ∂Ω ∂
Equations of motion:

ẍ ‒ ẏ = / x ÿ + ẋ = / y z̈ = / z

Jacobi constant C = Ω‒ (ẋ² + ẏ² + ż²) only known integral; governs Hill forbidden regions.
 . CR BP Equilibria & Hill

Surfaces

Five Lagrange points: L ₁, L₂, L₃ collinear; L₄, L₅ equilateral triangles.

L ₄/L₅ stable for μ < .

L ₁, L₂, L₃ saddles but usable with station-keeping.

Zero-velocity curves C = Ω create transit barriers.

Stable / unstable manifolds enable low-energy transfers (Hiten, JWST,

lunar Gateway).
Thank You