Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2018 / ia / Paper 4 / 4A (Dynamics and Relativity)

A central force has the form $\mathbf{F}=f(r)\hat{\mathbf{r}}$, so it always points along the line from a fixed centre to the particle. Its torque about the centre vanishes:Thus angular momentum is conserved. Since $\mathbf{r}\cdot \mathbf{L}=0$, the trajectory lies in the fixed plane through the origin perpendicular to $\mathbf{L}$.

The area swept in time $dt$ is $dA=\frac{1}{2}|\mathbf{r}\times d\mathbf{r}|$, sowhich is constant. This proves Kepler's second law.