Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Oxford / 2021 / Prelims / Mathematics IV / 4 / b / i

With $\alpha =0$, a gives constant $h$, and the polar coordinates basis satisfies ${\dot{\mathbf{e}}}_r=\dot{\theta }{\mathbf{e}}_{\theta }$, ${\mathbf{e}}_r\times {\mathbf{e}}_z=-{\mathbf{e}}_{\theta }$. Also $\ddot{\mathbf{r}}=(F_c/m){\mathbf{e}}_r$. Differentiating the proposed Laplace-Runge-Lenz vector therefore givesFor this to vanish for arbitrary $h$, including nonzero $h$, the central force must satisfyAttraction requires $k>0$. The condition “for any value of $h$” matters: with $h=0$ alone, the Laplace-Runge-Lenz vector is constant on each radial ray for any central force, so that special case would not determine the force law.