FYKOS Year 31 Series 3 Problem 2 — small acceleration, large acceleration · FYKOS 31 #31.3.2
Physics · mechanics · optics
Problem
In the figure, there is an ellipse with two focal points F1F2 and several marked points on the ellipse. The ellipse represents a trajectory of one material point. Plot the accelerations the point experiences in given points of its trajectory. Show it in a figure. The direction and ratio of accelerations are important.
There is a massive body in the focal point F1. The material point is orbiting it, and Kepler's 2nd law applies.
The absolute value of velocity of the material point is constant. It only moves along the ellipse.