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Math Forum » Discussions » Math Topics » geometry.pre-college.independent

Topic: Hyperbolas in Nature
Replies: 29   Last Post: Mar 24, 2010 6:05 AM

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John Conway

Posts: 2,238
Registered: 12/3/04
Re: Hyperbolas in nature
Posted: May 6, 1996 7:42 AM
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On Mon, 6 May 1996, Lou Talman wrote:

> Most--if not all--astronomical objects in high-energy (i.e., unbounded) orbits
> about their primaries have hyperbolic orbits. Only those objects with
> *precisely* enough energy to escape to infinity have parabolic orbits; such
> objects must be extremely rare. Those with less energy have elliptic orbits;
> those with more, hyperbolic.
>
> --Lou Talman
>
Oh, of course!!! Why didn't I remember to include orbits?

JHConway

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