Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-theoretical-physics-i-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2014/paper-1/2/d/solution

Substitution of the proposed sine and cosine displacements into either linearized equation gives . Thus
These are signed angular frequencies, not two positive frequency magnitudes. To first order, with ,
The orbit is therefore a circle of radius about at this order. The positive root runs counterclockwise; the negative root runs clockwise and has the larger magnitude. A positive charge in alone circles clockwise. Here the spring permits an additional counterclockwise mode by providing inward force against its magnetic force.
Figure 1.
Opposite-handed circular modes about the shifted spring equilibrium
. Details.

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