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What are the implications of this? Until 2013, only 3 or so solutions to the 3-body problem are known. Now we have over 150 solutions. This sounds incredible,
by yorteiler 9y ago
What are the implications of this?
Until 2013, only 3 or so solutions to the 3-body problem are known. Now we have over 150 solutions. This sounds incredible, given how fundamental the problem is, but So what?
Will this change astrophysics - for example - in any way?
- ordu 9y ago3-body problem is unsolved math problem. There is equation, but no one knows how to solve it, and the only way to deal with it is number crunching. Stable orbits are solutions to the problem, but partial ones. The more solutions are known there more possibility to find more generalized solution. Maybe even the general solution for the problem. I do not know how it can change astrophysics (its just newtonian gravitation, not einshteinian), but it can bring new methods/ideas to mathematics, then improved math will change everything. Maybe.
- reikonomusha 9y agoThe problem isn't unsolved. It just doesn't have analytical solutions. But the mere fact we can simulate trajectories means we can solve it.
- ordu 9y agoFrom engineering point of view, maybe the problem is solved. From maths point of view it isn't. For example, one cannot say for sure, are these trajectories periodic or no. 100-digit precision says "yes", but there is no guarantee, that 101-digit precision wouldn't say "no", they are not periodic.
- 8note 9y agowhat kinds of problems can we solve with an analytic solution to the 3 body problem instead of a numerical one?
- ooqr 9y agoGiven this other reply: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14280369 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14280369 We'll probably be able to use these techniques on other problems in the future as well.