 Solution

Divide Newton's second law by the mass and resolve along the radial and transverse unit vectors in polar coordinates. A central force has no transverse component, soMultiplication of the second equation by $r$ shows that $d(r^2\dot{\theta })/dt=0$. Thuswhere $h$ is the signed specific angular momentum perpendicular to the orbital plane.

If $h\ne 0$ and $r>0$, the polar angle is locally a valid independent variable. For $u=1/r$, use primes for derivatives with respect to $\theta$. The chain rule givesSubstitution into the radial equation gives the Binet equationIf $h=0$, the orbit is radial and division by $h$ is unavailable; the first radial equation still applies with $\dot{\theta }=0$ away from the origin.