Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2018/ii/paper-2/8b/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 ii Paper 2 8B Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
In Cartesian coordinates the Lagrangian isIntroduce a Lagrange multiplier for . The Euler-Lagrange equations becomeorDifferentiating the constraint twice givesTaking the scalar product of the vector equation with therefore yieldsSubstitution gives
For , the equations have the first integralsWriting and gives and . Hence every trajectory isThese are helices of unit angular frequency about a line parallel to the axis, including circles when and a straight line when .
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