Apsidal speed sum for an attractive inverse-square orbit
ID: apsidal-speed-sum-for-an-attractive-inverse-square-orbit
For unit mass with inverse-square potential , , and positive conserved angular momentum , a bounded orbit has . Its periapsis distance and apoapsis distance are roots of , so their sum is and product . Speed is largest at the periapsis and smallest at the apoapsis, because decreases with . Radial velocity is zero there, so the two speeds are and . Their sum is , independent of , including the circular limit.
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