Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems · Problem 8-17

Dynamics of a System of Particles — Marion & Thornton

Physics — Mechanics · central-force-elliptical-orbit-eccentricity

Problem

A particle moves in an elliptical orbit in an inverse-square-law central-force field. If the ratio of the maximum angular velocity to the minimum angular velocity of the particle in its orbit is nn, then show that the eccentricity of the orbit is ε=n−1n+1\varepsilon = \frac{\sqrt{n}-1}{\sqrt{n}+1}

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