Orbits

Achieving Orbit

A simple animation that shows a projectile with increasing horizontal velocity, working up to the circular velocity.

download MP4: achievingorbit.mp4

Escape Velocity

A simple animation showing how the orbit of a projectile around Earth changes as we increase the change the tangential velocity from less than the circular velocity to greater than the escape velocity.

download MP4: escape.mp4

Changing Orbit

A simple animation showing how an initially circular orbit is changed into an elliptical one by increasing the velocity at perihelion. Two boosts are modeled.

download MP4: changing_orbit.mp4