Orbital Motion

By  Sky McKinley

and Craig Anderson


Abstract:   Using differential equations, the motion of two celestial bodies acting under their mutual    attraction was effectively modeled.  The orbital motion was found to lie in a plane and follow a conic section trajectory.
Table of Contents:
  • History
  • Motion of Center of Mass
  • Fixed Planar Motion
  • Derivation of Conic Section Equation
  • Energy of the System
  • References