Simple Paths of Newtonian Gravity
mixed media on canvas and problem sets, 7 by 35 x 35 cm
2005

The lines are first generated by a computer program that map out paths of objects in a gravitational field of a simple sphere (like the Earth) and then painted onto a canvas-collage made from physics student problem sets. The first painting on the far left shows the path of four objects that have no starting velocity (hence they drop straight to the point of gravity).  As the viewer moves right, the objects have faster and faster starting velocities until they form orbits.  Beyond that, they are so fast and are only minimally affected by the field at all (the far right).

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