The triple sun

The triple sun

The triple sun

DISCLAIMER 1 Due to the complexity of the computation it's highly advisable you download the applet on a PC and run it with Geogebra classic 5 for desktop. It may happen that, upon changing some parameters, some element crasches and/or disappears. Use the applet at your own risk. DISCLAIMER 2 The applet author is not held responsible if, upon running the simulation, the sun duplicates or triplicates itself, causing havoc in the climate, in the seasons and in the night/day alternance. If you notice some of these strange unexpected happenings please stop the applet as soon as possible (without saving). INSTRUCTIONS It's possible to change the planet initial x-y position (sliders xP0 and yP0) and initial speed (x-y components xv0 and yv0). It's also possible to change the star positions, but you must access the algebra view (stars positions are defined through the S1, S2, S3 points). Other minor parameters can be tweaked upon inspecting the algebra view. NARRATIVE... Wouldn't it be much more fun if the earth orbited a triple star system? No years, unpredictable seasons, random daylight hours, utter chaos, and some very very hot weekend!! OTHER TECHNICAL NOTES This simulation is not about a real 4-bodies problem as, to keep things reasonably simple, the three stars are kept fixed and don't respond to mutual attractive forces. Only the planet feels the gravitational pull of the 3 stars and moves accordingly. To avoid the singularities the stars are modeled as gaseous homogeneous clouds and the planet can enter/exit them frictionlessly. Gravity rules the dynamics outside the star's cloud. Harmonic forces holds inside.