I'm doing a simulation of the galaxy on the physics simulation program "Interactive Physics". However, I'm confused on how to get a planet to orbit a star while the star orbits the black hole in the middle of the galaxy. Whenever I try, the planet just accelerates towards the middle> How do I get the plane to orbit the star? Thank you.
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make sure the star has mass. much more than the mass of the planet, but much less than the mass of the black hole (check google for realistic values.)
Then you must make sure the planet is near the star, within the Hill Sphere of the star, the star needs to be moving relative to the black hole, and the planet needs to move relative to the star, but not so fast that it escapes.
study Kepler's laws, newtons laws of motion and gravity
all motion is relative it depends on the arbitrary choice of what is zero of position
if a pull is at right angles to the velocity it changes direction but not speed
only in the extremely rare case where an object is "falling" exactly along a radius to the center of the larger mass will there ever be a collision any side motion at all makes and orbit
a simulation is only as good as the math model and program
GIGO = garbage In = Garbage Out