Abstract
In the first part of the paper, the notion of evolution is introduced, as opposed to that of stability and instability. A definition is proposed that involves the variations of the energy and angular momentum integrals of a subgroup of an isolated N body system.
When there are only gravitational interactions between the bodies, the conditions for evolution are outlined and some examples are given. This is in particular applied to the case when there exists a massive central body.
Several examples of evolution when non-conservative forces are also acting are proposed. It is shown that evolution takes place because generally there exists a non-vanishing component of the disturbing force perpendicular to the radius vector in the orbital plane. This is the case of the atmospheric drag, of the Poynting-Robertson effect and of tidal effects. Some details are presented for the latter and the results are applied to the evolution of the Earth-Moon system.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Bibliography
Belyaev, N.A., Kresàk, L., Pittich, E.M. and Pushkarev, A.N., 1986, “Catalogue of short period comets”, Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences publisher, Bratislava.
Burns, J.A., Lamy, P.L. and Soter, S., 1979, Icarus, 40, p.l.
Carusi, A., Kresak, L., Perozzi, E. and Valsecchi, G.B., 1985, in “Dynamics of Comets: their origin and evolution”, A. Carusi and G.B. Valsecchi eds., IAU Colloquium 83, Rome, D. Reidel Publ. Co. Dordrecht, p.319.
Harrington, R.S., 1974, Celestial Mechanics,9, p.465.
Harrington, R.S., 1975, Astronomical Journal, 80, p.1081
Kaula, W.M., 1964, Reviews of geophysics and Space Physics,2, p.661.
King-Hele, D.G., 1964, “Theory of salte! lite orbits in an atmosphere”, Butterworths Publ. Co., London.
Kovalevsky, J., 1967, “Introduction to Celestial Mechanics”, Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, p.116.
Kovalevsky, J., 1982, in “Applications of Modern Dynamics to Celestial Mechanics and Astrodynamics”, V. Szebehely ed., Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, p.59.
Kovalevsky, J., 1985, in “Stability of the Solar System and its Minor Natural and Artificial Bodies”, V.G. Szebehely ed., Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, p.39.
Lambeck, K., 1977, Phil. Transactions, Royal Society, London, 287, p.545.
Marchal, C., 1974, Celestial Mechanics, 9, p.381.
Marchal, C., 1985, in “Stability of the Solar System and its Minor Natural and Artificial Bodies”, V.G. Szebehely ed., Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, p.115.
Mignard, F., 1979, The Moon and the Planets, 20, p.301.
Mignard, F., 1980, The Moon and the Planets, 23, p.185.
Milani, A., and Nobili, A.M., 1985, in “Stability of the Solar System and its Minor Natural and Artificial Bodies”, V.G. Szebehely ed., Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, p.139.
Milani, A., Nobili, A.M. and Carpino, M., 1987, Astronomy and Astrophys. 172, p.265.
Pollard, H. and Saari, D.G., 1970, Celestial Mechanics, 1, p.347.
Standish, E.M., 1971, Celestial Mechanics, 4, p.44.
Szebehely, V.G., 1973, Celestial Mechanics, 8, p.163.
Szebehely, V.G., 1979, in “Instabilities in Dynamical Systems”, V.G. Szebehely ed., Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, p.61.
Szebehely, V.G., 1985, in “Stability of the Solar System and its Minor Natural and Artificial bodies”, V.G. Szebehely ed., Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, p.175.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kovalevsky, J. (1988). Orbital Evolution. In: Roy, A.E. (eds) Long-Term Dynamical Behaviour of Natural and Artificial N-Body Systems. NATO ASI Series, vol 246. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3053-7_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3053-7_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7873-3
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3053-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive