Restricted three-body problem

The restricted three-body problem involves studying the motion of a small object influenced by the gravity of two much larger bodies, like the Earth and Moon, which orbit each other. The small object’s mass is so tiny that it doesn’t affect the larger bodies’ movement. This problem helps scientists understand how objects like satellites or space debris move within complex gravitational fields. It reveals regions where the small object can stay stable or become unstable, and explains intricate orbital patterns that arise due to the combined gravitational pull of the two larger bodies.