Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2008/ii/paper-2/15b/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 ii Paper 2 15B Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Put . From Hamilton's equations,For the stated time-independent vector potential, differentiating gives , orUse the Poisson bracket convention . Then direct differentiation givesFor with , the Hamiltonian is independent of , so . The radial force in the horizontal plane is . For circular motion the radial acceleration is , and is the mechanical radial momentum because the horizontal vector potential vanishes. ThusA circular orbit at that radius is possible when the right side is nonnegative; positive values give either sense of horizontal rotation, and the longitudinal velocity is the constant along that orbit.
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