Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 ia Paper 4 10E Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
A central force has zero torque, so is constant and the angular momentum is . The areal velocity is . Put and let primes denote angular derivatives. Then , , and . The radial equation with inward force magnitude is , giving the Binet equationChoose the angular origin along a diameter of a radius- circle through . Its polar equation is , so on . Since , substitution gives and henceThe force is attractive. For fixed force coefficient and mass, , so is inversely proportional to the magnitude of the angular momentum. The time along the circle isThis circular orbit through an inverse-fifth-power singularity reaches the force center at the two endpoints of this angular interval. The integral is finite; continuation through the singular collision is not specified by the force law alone.