Orbital Mechanics
Following gravitational motion through code, vectors, and energy.
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The question
How can a numerical model describe orbital motion, and how do we check whether the integration is behaving as intended?
The approach
The project README describes object-oriented bodies, gravitational force calculations, a custom 3D vector class, and velocity Verlet integration. Position, velocity, acceleration, and energy are recorded.
What to inspect
Start with the Earth–Sun configuration and follow the simulation log. Energy drift is a useful diagnostic; the portfolio does not assert an accuracy benchmark that has not been reproduced.