Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2023/prelims/mathematics-iv/5/a/solution

Let be the normal reaction of the stationary smooth surface of revolution. Its normal lies in the span of , so it has no component. The transverse component of Newton's second law, , is therefore
which gives .
The velocity is tangent to the stationary surface, so . Take the dot product of Newton's second law with :
Using proves conservation of mechanical energy per unit mass:
The ideal constraint does no work. These equations describe motion while the particle remains constrained to the surface.

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