 Solution

Take $a>0$ and the intended horizontal launch around a parallel of the surface of revolution: $\dot{r}(0)=\dot{z}(0)=0$, $a\dot{\theta }(0)=v$. Then $h=av$ and $E=v^2/2+gf(a)$. Since $\dot{z}=f^{\prime }(r)\dot{r}$, the conserved energy becomesHere $U$ is the radial effective potential on a surface of revolution. Rearrangement givesFor a nonconstant bounded radial motion with $v>0$, there must be another finite radial bound $b\ne a$ satisfying $D(b)=0$, equivalentlyThe interval between the radial bounds must be dynamically accessible: $D\ge 0$ inside, and a simple endpoint must have a forbidden region $D<0$ beyond it. Equivalently the motion must lie in a bounded part of $\{r>0:U(r)\le E\}$ separated from escape by a potential barrier. When $f$ stays finite near zero and $v>0$, the centrifugal barrier already excludes $r=0$; an outer barrier is the additional requirement. An arbitrary second algebraic root on a disconnected allowed branch would not establish boundedness.

The initial radial acceleration, obtained by projecting Newton's second law along ${\mathbf{e}}_r+f^{\prime }(a){\mathbf{e}}_z$, isThus $v^2/g>a{f}^{\prime }(a)$ starts the particle outward, and $v^2/g<a{f}^{\prime }(a)$ starts it inward. Equality gives the exact circular orbit $r=a$ and needs no second distinct radial bound. A double root at a different radius can instead be approached asymptotically: this separatrix is bounded, although the radial motion is not periodic. If $v=0$, the centrifugal barrier disappears and the particle may pass through the axis, still with bounded $r$.

The source leaves a direction ambiguity at points where $f^{\prime }(a)=0$: every horizontal tangent direction is then possible, so “projected horizontally” alone does not imply $h=av$. The displayed inequality uses the azimuthal launch specified above; at $f^{\prime }(a)\ne 0$ that direction is forced by horizontality and tangency.