4.II.10E
Part IA, 2002
Derive the equation
for the orbit of a particle of mass and angular momentum moving under a central force directed towards a fixed point . Give an interpretation of in terms of the area swept out by a radius vector.
If the orbits are found to be circles passing through , then deduce that the force varies inversely as the fifth power of the distance, , where is a constant. Is the force attractive or repulsive?
Show that, for fixed mass, the radius of the circle varies inversely as the angular momentum of the particle, and hence that the time taken to traverse a complete circle is proportional to .
[You may assume, if you wish, the expressions for radial and transverse acceleration in the forms .]