A particle of mass m and charge q has position vector r(t) and moves in a constant, uniform magnetic field B so that its equation of motion is
mr¨=qr˙×B
Let L=mr×r˙ be the particle's angular momentum. Show that
L⋅B+21q∣r×B∣2
is a constant of the motion. Explain why the kinetic energy T is also constant, and show that it may be written in the form
T=21mu⋅((u⋅v)v−r2u¨)
where v=r˙,r=∣r∣ and u=r/r.
[Hint: Consider u ⋅u˙.]