Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2010/ii/paper-1/9d/solution

In Lagrangian mechanics, the energy balance for an autonomous Lagrangian uses . For the stationary vector potential the velocity-linear magnetic term cancels in this expression, leaving kinetic energy. In cylindrical coordinates,
Time independence and the cyclic angular coordinate give two constants:
The three Euler-Lagrange equations are
The supplied angular velocity is . Set , and use this constant angular velocity. The radial right-hand side is , the angular momentum is constant, and the vertical equation vanishes when . These equations and the initial data therefore give
For nonzero radius and charge this is the requested circular orbit.

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