1/r Gravitational Potential & Orbiting Object

1/r Gravitational Potential & Orbiting Object
(description below)

Above we see a handy dandy JAVA applet which shows the 1/r potential (typical of the gravitational potential for a central gravitating body) and a 1/r potential added from a second object orbiitng the first. The second object orbits in a eliptical orbit. Use the scroll bars at the bottom and side to change the point of view.

This page prepared by C.Hartley, Director of the Ernest B. Wright Observatory at the Department of Physics at Hartwick College in the City of Oneonta, NY. More things from C. Hartley at his home.