Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2002 / ia / Paper 4 / 11E (Dynamics)

Neglecting gravity, the equation of motion is $m\ddot{\mathbf{x}}=a\dot{\mathbf{x}}\times \mathbf{x}/r^3$, where $r=|\mathbf{x}|>0$. Dotting with the velocity gives $d(m|\dot{\mathbf{x}}{|}^2/2)/dt=0$, because a cross product is perpendicular to its factors. Thus the speed is constant. The vector triple product givesHence the generalized angular momentum in a radial monopole field isDotting with $\mathbf{x}$ gives $\mathbf{L}\cdot \mathbf{x}=-ar$, or $\hat{\mathbf{L}}\cdot \hat{\mathbf{x}}=-a/|\mathbf{L}|$. For $\mathbf{L}\ne 0$, the direction of $\mathbf{x}$ therefore makes the fixed angle $\boxed{\cos \beta =-a/|\mathbf{L}|}$ with the axis $\mathbf{L}$, describing a right circular conical surface with vertex at the North Pole. Orthogonality gives $|\mathbf{L}{|}^2=m^2|\mathbf{x}\times \dot{\mathbf{x}}{|}^2+a^2$, so this cosine is in $[-1,1]$. Radial motion gives a degenerate cone; when $a=0$ and the ordinary angular momentum is nonzero the cone is the usual orbital plane. If $\mathbf{L}=0$, the norm identity forces $a=0$ and $\mathbf{x}\times \dot{\mathbf{x}}=0$, giving a radial straight line.