Morin Problem 3.68

Physics · mechanics

Problem

A force Fθ\theta = 3mr˙θ\theta˙ Consider a particle that feels an angular force only, of the form Fθ\theta = 3mr˙θ\theta˙. Show that r˙ = ±\pm Ar4+B, where A and B are constants of integration, determined by the initial conditions. Also, show that if the particle starts with θ\theta˙ ≠ 0 and r˙ > 0, it reaches r = ∞\infty in a finite time. (As in Problem 3.23, there's nothing all that physical about this force. It simply makes the F = ma equations solvable.)

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