Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-theoretical-physics-i-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2017/2/b/solution
Past exam of the theoretical physics I course of the University of Cambridge 2017 2 b Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
The azimuth is a cyclic coordinate, so its canonical momentum is conserved:Initially the velocity is parallel to the axis in a field-free region, so . Conservation of canonical angular momentum across a solenoid fringe therefore gives, inside the uniform field,This holds away from the coordinate singularity ; the Cartesian orbit will be smooth there.
Time independence also conserves the energy Hamiltonian,The velocity-linear magnetic term cancels in this Legendre transform. Thus is constant, as expected because a static magnetic Lorentz force does no work. Mechanical angular momentum can change even though and the total speed are conserved.
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