Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2011/ia/paper-4/9b/b/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2011 ia Paper 4 9B b Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
For , the radial gradient givesThe force is radial and has no torque about the origin. For the remaining force, use the vector triple product:Meanwhile the radial unit vector obeysSince , these derivatives cancel. Thus the generalized angular momentum in a radial monopole field isThe argument applies away from , where the field is defined, for any radial . In contrast to ordinary angular momentum, this conserved vector has ; it fixes a cone rather than generally fixing a plane.
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