Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2020 ii Paper 2 8B Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
If is measured in the rotating frame, its inertial velocity is . The masses producing the gravitational field are stationary in this frame, so their potential energy is a time-independent function . Thus kinetic minus potential energy gives the stated LagrangianPut . ThenSubstitution in the Euler-Lagrange equation yieldsThe extra terms are the Coriolis acceleration, Euler acceleration, and centrifugal acceleration of a rotating reference frame.
Rotating-frame derivative formula 2026-09-29
If a frame rotates with angular velocity relative to an inertial frame, the derivatives of any vector satisfyApplying this formula twice to a position gives the Coriolis acceleration, Euler acceleration, and centrifugal acceleration terms.