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| Chaotic Motion? | |
| Posted By: Loren Petrich <petrich@netcom.com> | Date: 10/21/99 2:31 a.m. |
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First off, let us consider the whole question of chaotic motion. Dynamical chaos has a specific meaning: consider two close configurations, follow them forward, and see how fast they converge/diverge as you go. If they exponentially diverge, then the system has dynamical chaos, and the timescale of doing so can be called the chaos timescale. Dynamical chaos does not mean absolute unpredictability; chaotic systems are generally chaotic within certain parameter boundaries. Halo's orbit around Jonesworld is either not chaotic or chaotic within a limited range (its position in orbit may be chaotic over large timescales, but this will have little effect on its average orbit distance) but the same cannot be said of its rotation. It will have rotation around both its axis of symmetry and two axes perpendicular to it; the latter kind of rotation is most familiar as precession. Axial rotation will be constant, aside from tidal drag and collisions with other objects, but precession can be variable. If Halo's angular velocity of rotation is significantly greater than its orbit angular velocity, then its precession is likely to be much like the Earth's -- its axis makes a wobbly circle. However, if its rotation velocity is less, then its precession will be chaotic tumbling with a chaos timescale comparable to Halo's orbit period. Also, the locally-felt gravity (Jonesworld's tides) would vary in strength and direction, and be greater than Halo's rotational centrifugal force. Thus, for Halo's contents to be retained or at least not upended, Halo must spin faster than it orbits. Maybe I should create some interactive Halo simulator and code it as a Java applet. | |
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| Replies: |
| Chaotic Motion? | Loren Petrich | 10/21/99 2:31 a.m. |
| Re: Chaotic Motion? | Butcher | 10/21/99 4:25 p.m. |
| Re: Chaotic Motion? | Loren Petrich | 10/21/99 6:09 p.m. |
| Halo's Motion | Nathan | 10/22/99 9:26 a.m. |
| Re: Halo's Motion | Loren Petrich | 10/22/99 4:51 p.m. |
| Re: Chaotic Motion? | Butcher | 10/22/99 5:51 p.m. |
| Re: Chaotic Motion? | Dispatcher | 10/21/99 8:30 p.m. |
| Re: Chaotic Motion? | Loren Petrich | 10/22/99 12:08 a.m. |
| Re: Chaotic Motion? | Daft Shadow =PN= | 10/22/99 12:43 a.m. |
| Halo Precession Simulator | Loren Petrich | 10/22/99 2:01 a.m. |
| Re: Chaotic Motion? | Toby Haynes | 10/22/99 9:21 a.m. |
| Re: Chaotic Motion? | Loren Petrich | 10/22/99 4:09 p.m. |
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