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For a Newtonian central configuration, set ${\mathbf{x}}_i(t)=a(t){\mathbf{a}}_i$ with $a>0$. The gravitational force scales as $a^{-2}$, reducing all equations to the displayed scalar ordinary differential equation. Its first integral is ${\dot{a}}^2/2-\Lambda /a=k/2$. The total energy is $kI/2$, so the scalar energy constant exactly tracks the many-body energy for the fixed shape.

For distinct positions and positive masses, Newton's law of universal gravitation givesThe proposed homothetic gravitational motion has ${\ddot{\mathbf{x}}}_i=-(2/9)t^{-4/3}{\mathbf{a}}_i$ and pair distances $t^{2/3}|{\mathbf{a}}_i-{\mathbf{a}}_j|$, so cancellation of $t^{-4/3}$ gives the time-independent equationsThese define a Newtonian central configuration with this choice of scale. Fordifferentiation in ${\mathbf{a}}_i$ gives ${\nabla }_{{\mathbf{a}}_i}\Phi =(2/9)m_i{\mathbf{a}}_i-G{\sum }_{j\ne i}{m}_i{m}_j({\mathbf{a}}_i-{\mathbf{a}}_j)/|{\mathbf{a}}_i-{\mathbf{a}}_j{|}^3=0$, exactly the displayed equations. The double sum in the paper counts each pair twice, so it agrees with this expression.

Multiply the configuration equations by $m_i$ and sum. Pair contributions cancel, giving ${\sum }_i{m}_i{\mathbf{a}}_i=0$. Thus the total linear momentum is $\mathbf{P}=(2/3)t^{-1/3}{\sum }_i{m}_i{\mathbf{a}}_i=0$. Each position is parallel to its velocity, so every $m_i{\mathbf{x}}_i\times {\dot{\mathbf{x}}}_i=0$ and the total angular momentum is zero. About any other fixed point $\mathbf{b}$, it is ${\mathbf{L}}_{\mathbf{b}}={\mathbf{L}}_O-\mathbf{b}\times \mathbf{P}=\boxed{0}$.

For positive masses and distinct positions, Newtonian gravitational field givesInsert ${\mathbf{x}}_i=a(t){\mathbf{a}}_i$ with $a>0$. The separation numerator contributes a factor $a$ and the denominator $a^3$, soHence the time-dependent equations are satisfied wheneverThe fixed-shape condition is a Newtonian central configuration, and the resulting motion is a homothetic gravitational motion. It applies away from the collision scale $a=0$; a negative scale would require absolute values in the force scaling rather than the same positive-scale formula.

Multiplying the scalar equation by $\dot{a}$ givesThus its first integral is ${\dot{a}}^2/2-\Lambda /a=k/2$ for some real constant $k$.

In the pair potentialdifferentiating a pair with respect to ${\mathbf{a}}_i$ produces $G{m}_i{m}_j({\mathbf{a}}_i-{\mathbf{a}}_j)/|{\mathbf{a}}_i-{\mathbf{a}}_j{|}^3$. Every pair incident on $i$ contributes exactly once, so ${\nabla }_{i}W={\mathbf{G}}_i$. Moreover $W(\lambda {\mathbf{a}}_1,\dots ,\lambda {\mathbf{a}}_n)={\lambda }^{-1}W$ for $\lambda >0$. Differentiating with respect to $\lambda$ at one proves the relevant Euler homogeneous function theorem identity directly:Dot each fixed-shape equation with ${\mathbf{a}}_i$ and sum to obtainFor a nontrivial collision-free configuration with at least two positive masses, $W<0$ and $I>0$, and therefore $\Lambda >0$. Positivity requires an interacting pair; an isolated one-particle system is the degenerate zero-force exception rather than a positive-$\Lambda$ gravitational configuration. Pairwise cancellation also gives ${\sum }_i{\mathbf{G}}_i=0$, so the nondegenerate configuration has ${\sum }_i{m}_i{\mathbf{a}}_i=0$: its scaling origin is the centre of mass.

Finally, the system's kinetic energy is $I{\dot{a}}^2/2$ and its potential energy is $W/a$. ConsequentlyThis establishes the energy relation for every fixed configuration satisfying the algebraic condition, without assuming any particular particle arrangement.