Classical Mechanics (Goldstein) · Problem 14

The Central Force Problem — Herbert Goldstein, Charles Poole, John Safko

Physics — Mechanics · circular-parabolic-orbit-comparison

Problem

(a) For circular and parabolic orbits in an attractive 1/r1/r potential having the same angular momentum, show that the perihelion distance of the parabola is one-half the radius of the circle. (b) Prove that in the same central force as in part (a) the speed of a particle at any point in a parabolic orbit is 2\sqrt{2} times the speed in a circular orbit passing through the same point.

Related theory

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