English

The simplest complexity: The story of the three-body problem

History and Philosophy of Physics 2025-10-22 v1 Earth and Planetary Astrophysics High Energy Physics - Theory Classical Physics

Abstract

This article offers a broad-brush account of the Newtonian three-body problem, from its origins with Newton to its vibrant present, emphasizing its enduring influence on theoretical physics. It unfolds through a series of self-contained episodes that illuminate the scientific fields and the paradigm shift that have grown out of this problem.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2510.18848,
  title  = {The simplest complexity: The story of the three-body problem},
  author = {Barak Kol},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.18848},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

27 pages, 15 figures