Orbit about Fixed Binary Stars

 

User Inputs

X-Initial     Y-Initial  

Vx-Initial     Vy-Initial  

Orbit Time     Time Step  

We place two equally massive "stars" at the (x,y) points (-1,0) and (+1,0). We then specify the initital position and velocity components of a mobile, orbiting "planet." Since the initial velocity is constrained to the plane defined by the stars and the initial planet position, the subsequent motion remains in the plane. We stipulate that the stars (somehow) remain fixed at their positions.