kostas papamichalis

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Topics in Physics - page 5

The Kepler Problem: the Newtonian and the relativistic (Special Theory) point of view

Kepler Orbits Synopsis
In this work we solve the Kepler problem in the context of two theories: a) the Special Theory of Relativity and b) the Newtonian Mechanics. We simulate the motion of a particle according to the predictions of each model, for the same initial conditions. We observe and calculate the precession of the perihelion of the orbit for the case of the relativistic model and the closed-elliptic path in the Newtonian model. We check our calculations in the virtual measurements of the simulation.
Key-concepts:
Minkowski space - The Kepler problem - Minkowski force - Minkowski equations of motion - Perihelion - Aphelion - Precession of aphelion or of perihelion - The Newtonian model for the Kepler problem

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Bibliography

  1. Classical Mechanics: Goldstein, Poole & Safko. Addison Wesley, 3d edition.
  2. Electrodynamics and Classical Theory of Fields and Particles: A.O. Barut. Dover edition 1980.
  3. The Classical Theory of Fields: L.D. Landau, E.M. Lifshitz. Pergamon Press third revised English edition
  4. Notes on the general principles of Relativistic Mechanics: Kostas Papamichalis
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