3 ms·

I think the point was that n-body systems with n>2 are chaotic, such that very small differences in starting position lead to massive differences as time unfold

I think the point was that n-body systems with n>2 are chaotic, such that very small differences in starting position lead to massive differences as time unfolds. Wouldn't this make it very difficult to do the highly precise detective work needed to find alleged former solar system bodies? Or are simulations accurate enough these days?

alanbernstein 7y ago
Not an expert, but I think n>2 means that chaotic behavior is possible, but not inevitable. Consider an isolated sun-earth-moon system, that doesn't appear to be chaotic. Simulating a "3-earth" system would, AFAIK, usually be chaotic. I'd be happy to be corrected, of course.
- dwaltrip 7y ago
  That sounds correct. I would guess that systems like that can be approximated fairly accurately as nested 2-body problems.