Planet path using netwon's law with forward method

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Given the initial position (ie x1,y1) and the velocity (ie vx,vy) of the planet.
How to plot a graph of the path of the planet around the center point (0,0) assuming the center is Earth, using time step of 10s for 500000s?
formula for forward method:
x(t+dt)=x(t)+v(t)*dt
v(t+dt)=v(t)+a(t)*dt
a=GM/r^2
G = 6.67e-11, M = 5.97e24
Many thanks.
  3 Comments
Walter Roberson
Walter Roberson on 18 Feb 2012
Where is "r" defined?
If I recall correctly, this kind of forward prediction is unable to handle the orbit of Mercury, which has notable influence from drag of the rotational gravitational frame.
James Tursa
James Tursa on 19 Feb 2012
@Walter: Well, OP has Euler's method listed which isn't going to do all that great with *any* orbit.

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Answers (1)

Gregory Vernon
Gregory Vernon on 19 Feb 2012
You should look into velocity verlet methods.

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