Past exam of the physics B course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / Paper 1 / Section A / A2

The radial force is $F_r=-dU/dr=-3A{r}^2$. A nontrivial circular orbit therefore requires $A>0$, so that the force is inward. Balancing its magnitude against the required centripetal acceleration givesThusThis is the circular-orbit energy ratio in a power-law potential, $2K=r{U}^{\prime }(r)=sU$ for $U=A{r}^s$, with $s=3$. It uses the zero of potential energy specified by $U=A{r}^3$; adding a constant would change the ratio without changing the motion. For $A<0$, the force is outward and no such free circular orbit exists.