TheAlgorithms/Python · error · ValueError

Mass cannot be less than 0

Error message

Mass cannot be less than 0

What it means

Error "Mass cannot be less than 0" thrown in TheAlgorithms/Python.

Source

Thrown at physics/basic_orbital_capture.py:53

    Traceback (most recent call last):
        ...
    ValueError: Radius cannot be less than 0
    >>> capture_radii(6.957e8, -1.99e30, 25000.0)
    Traceback (most recent call last):
        ...
    ValueError: Mass cannot be less than 0
    >>> capture_radii(6.957e8, 1.99e30, c+1)
    Traceback (most recent call last):
        ...
    ValueError: Cannot go beyond speed of light

    Returned SI units:
    ------------------
    meters | m
    """

    if target_body_mass < 0:
        raise ValueError("Mass cannot be less than 0")
    if target_body_radius < 0:
        raise ValueError("Radius cannot be less than 0")
    if projectile_velocity > c:
        raise ValueError("Cannot go beyond speed of light")

    escape_velocity_squared = (2 * G * target_body_mass) / target_body_radius
    capture_radius = target_body_radius * sqrt(
        1 + escape_velocity_squared / pow(projectile_velocity, 2)
    )
    return round(capture_radius, 0)


def capture_area(capture_radius: float) -> float:
    """
    Input Param:
    ------------
    capture_radius: The radius of orbital capture and impact for a central body of
    mass M and a projectile moving towards it with velocity v

View on GitHub (pinned to f5988cc097)

Solutions

1. Pass a mass of 0 or greater.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at physics/basic_orbital_capture.py:53 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of TheAlgorithms/Python@f5988cc097 (2026-08-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/698b5ef884de33f0. Report an issue: GitHub.