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In spherical coordinates, the Lagrangian isA central force exerts zero torque, so the angular momentum vector is constant and the orbit lies in a fixed plane. Choose that plane as $\theta =\pi /2$; then $\ell =m{r}^2\dot{\varphi }$ is conserved. Substituting this relation into the energy givesThe effective potential reduces radial motion to a one-dimensional problem. Allowed radii have $E\ge V_{\mathrm{eff}}$, radial turning points satisfy equality, and a circular orbit occurs at $V_{\mathrm{eff}}^{\prime }=0$. A strict local minimum gives stable radial oscillations. Eliminating $\dot{\varphi }$ directly inside the original Lagrangian would require a Routhian; the energy derivation avoids giving the centrifugal term the wrong sign.

A reduction of Lagrangian mechanics that fixes conserved momenta of cyclic coordinates while keeping an Euler-Lagrange description for the remaining coordinates. It is named for Edward Routh. The Routhian applies a partial Legendre transform to the eliminated velocities.