Orbits Within Spherical Galaxies Model

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written by Wolfgang Christian

The Orbits Within Spherical Galaxies model displays the two-dimensional trajectories of particles (stars) within a galaxy having a spherically symmetric mass distribution that heuristically approximates the distributions found in galaxies and bulges. The model uses a mass density proposed by Walter Dehnen to describe spatial distributions that vary as r^-4 and r^-g in galactic envelopes and cores where g is an adjustable power-law parameter. Units are chosen such that a typical galaxy has total mass M=1 and that the gravitational constant G=1.

The Orbits Within Spherical Galaxies model is a supplemental simulation for the article "Radial motion in a central potential for singular mass densities" by Ulrich Zürcher and Miron Kaufman in the American Journal of Physics 79(5), 521-526 (2011) and has been approved by the authors and the American Journal of Physics (AJP) editor. The simulation was developed using the Easy Java Simulations (EJS) modeling tool. It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive. Double clicking the ejs_mech_orbits_OrbitsWithinSphericalGalaxies.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.

Please note that this resource requires at least version 1.5 of Java.

.jar

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Last Modified: June 11, 2014
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1 source code document is available

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Astronomy - Galaxies = Galactic Structure Classical Mechanics - Gravity = Orbits = Universal Gravitation - Motion in Two Dimensions = Central Forces	- Upper Undergraduate - Lower Undergraduate	- Instructional Material = Interactive Simulation

Intended Users	Formats	Ratings
- Learners - Educators	- application/java	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Access Rights:: Free access; Program released under GNU-GPL. Narrative is copyrighted.
License:: This material is released under a GNU General Public License Version 3 license.
Rights Holder:: Wolfgang Christian
PACSs:: 01.50.hv; 07.05.Tp; 05.10.-a
Keyword:: Orbits
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created January 12, 2011 by Wolfgang Christian
Record Updated:: June 11, 2014 by Andreu Glasmann
Last Update when Cataloged:: January 12, 2011
Other Collections:: The Open Source Physics

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AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

4. The Physical Setting

4E. Energy Transformations

6-8: 4E/M4. Energy appears in different forms and can be transformed within a system. Motion energy is associated with the speed of an object. Thermal energy is associated with the temperature of an object. Gravitational energy is associated with the height of an object above a reference point. Elastic energy is associated with the stretching or compressing of an elastic object. Chemical energy is associated with the composition of a substance. Electrical energy is associated with an electric current in a circuit. Light energy is associated with the frequency of electromagnetic waves.

AAAS Benchmark Alignments (1993 Version)

4. THE PHYSICAL SETTING

E. Energy Transformations

4E (9-12) #2. Heat energy in a material consists of the disordered motions of its atoms or molecules. In any interactions of atoms or molecules, the statistical odds are that they will end up with less order than they began?that is, with the heat energy spread out more evenly. With huge numbers of atoms and molecules, the greater disorder is almost certain.

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=10583">Christian, Wolfgang. "Orbits Within Spherical Galaxies Model." Version 1.0.</a>

AIP Format

W. Christian, Computer Program ORBITS WITHIN SPHERICAL GALAXIES MODEL, Version 1.0 (2011), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=10583&DocID=2074).

AJP/PRST-PER

W. Christian, Computer Program ORBITS WITHIN SPHERICAL GALAXIES MODEL, Version 1.0 (2011), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=10583&DocID=2074>.

APA Format

Christian, W. (2011). Orbits Within Spherical Galaxies Model (Version 1.0) [Computer software]. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=10583&DocID=2074

Chicago Format

Christian, Wolfgang. "Orbits Within Spherical Galaxies Model." Version 1.0. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=10583&DocID=2074 (accessed 1 May 2025).

MLA Format

Christian, Wolfgang. Orbits Within Spherical Galaxies Model. Vers. 1.0. Computer software. 2011. Java 1.5. 1 May 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=10583&DocID=2074>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Author = "Wolfgang Christian", Title = {Orbits Within Spherical Galaxies Model}, Month = {January}, Year = {2011} }

Refer Export Format

%A Wolfgang Christian %T Orbits Within Spherical Galaxies Model %D January 12, 2011 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=10583&DocID=2074 %O 1.0 %O application/java

EndNote Export Format

%0 Computer Program %A Christian, Wolfgang %D January 12, 2011 %T Orbits Within Spherical Galaxies Model %7 1.0 %8 January 12, 2011 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=10583&DocID=2074

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The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

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