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(I previously asked essentially this on physics.stackexchangeon physics.stackexchange, but was actually
hoping for answers with something closer to a proof than what I got there.)

Suppose we have a unit mass planet at each integer point in 1-d space. $\:$ As described in that answer, the sum of the forces acting on any particular planet is absolutely convergent. $\;\;$ Suppose we move planet_0
to point $\epsilon$, where $\: 0< \epsilon< \frac12 \:$. $\;\;$ For similar reasons, those sums will still be absolutely convergent.
Now we let Newtonian gravity apply. $\:$ What will happen?



If it's unclear what an answer might look like, you could consider the following more specific questions:


Will there be a positive amount of time before any collisions occur?
(As opposed to, for example, a collision at time $\frac1n$ for each positive integer $n$.)

"Obviously" (at least, I hope I'm right), planet_0 will collide with planet_1. $\:$ Will that be the first collision?

planet_0 will start out moving right, and all of the other planets will start out moving to the left.
Will there be a positive amount of time before any of them turn around?

How long will it be before there are any collisions? $\:\:$ (perhaps just an approximation for small $\:\epsilon\:$)

(I previously asked essentially this on physics.stackexchange, but was actually
hoping for answers with something closer to a proof than what I got there.)

Suppose we have a unit mass planet at each integer point in 1-d space. $\:$ As described in that answer, the sum of the forces acting on any particular planet is absolutely convergent. $\;\;$ Suppose we move planet_0
to point $\epsilon$, where $\: 0< \epsilon< \frac12 \:$. $\;\;$ For similar reasons, those sums will still be absolutely convergent.
Now we let Newtonian gravity apply. $\:$ What will happen?



If it's unclear what an answer might look like, you could consider the following more specific questions:


Will there be a positive amount of time before any collisions occur?
(As opposed to, for example, a collision at time $\frac1n$ for each positive integer $n$.)

"Obviously" (at least, I hope I'm right), planet_0 will collide with planet_1. $\:$ Will that be the first collision?

planet_0 will start out moving right, and all of the other planets will start out moving to the left.
Will there be a positive amount of time before any of them turn around?

How long will it be before there are any collisions? $\:\:$ (perhaps just an approximation for small $\:\epsilon\:$)

(I previously asked essentially this on physics.stackexchange, but was actually
hoping for answers with something closer to a proof than what I got there.)

Suppose we have a unit mass planet at each integer point in 1-d space. $\:$ As described in that answer, the sum of the forces acting on any particular planet is absolutely convergent. $\;\;$ Suppose we move planet_0
to point $\epsilon$, where $\: 0< \epsilon< \frac12 \:$. $\;\;$ For similar reasons, those sums will still be absolutely convergent.
Now we let Newtonian gravity apply. $\:$ What will happen?



If it's unclear what an answer might look like, you could consider the following more specific questions:


Will there be a positive amount of time before any collisions occur?
(As opposed to, for example, a collision at time $\frac1n$ for each positive integer $n$.)

"Obviously" (at least, I hope I'm right), planet_0 will collide with planet_1. $\:$ Will that be the first collision?

planet_0 will start out moving right, and all of the other planets will start out moving to the left.
Will there be a positive amount of time before any of them turn around?

How long will it be before there are any collisions? $\:\:$ (perhaps just an approximation for small $\:\epsilon\:$)

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user5810
user5810

Infinitely many planets on a line, with Newtonian gravity

(I previously asked essentially this on physics.stackexchange, but was actually
hoping for answers with something closer to a proof than what I got there.)

Suppose we have a unit mass planet at each integer point in 1-d space. $\:$ As described in that answer, the sum of the forces acting on any particular planet is absolutely convergent. $\;\;$ Suppose we move planet_0
to point $\epsilon$, where $\: 0< \epsilon< \frac12 \:$. $\;\;$ For similar reasons, those sums will still be absolutely convergent.
Now we let Newtonian gravity apply. $\:$ What will happen?



If it's unclear what an answer might look like, you could consider the following more specific questions:


Will there be a positive amount of time before any collisions occur?
(As opposed to, for example, a collision at time $\frac1n$ for each positive integer $n$.)

"Obviously" (at least, I hope I'm right), planet_0 will collide with planet_1. $\:$ Will that be the first collision?

planet_0 will start out moving right, and all of the other planets will start out moving to the left.
Will there be a positive amount of time before any of them turn around?

How long will it be before there are any collisions? $\:\:$ (perhaps just an approximation for small $\:\epsilon\:$)