PH1010: Physics

Assignment 4

Submission Date: 6 November 2017

Q 1. For what values of n are circular orbits stable with potenital energy U (r) = A/rn ,
where A > 0. Determine the condition on n such that the orbits are closed.

Q 2. A particle of reduced mass is moving in an elliptic orbit (with eccentricity ) in a

central potenital U (r) = /r, where is a positive constant. Show that the Laplace-
Runge-Lenz vector defined as
~
~ = L p~ r
A (1)

is a constant of motion. Also provide a geometrical interpretation.

Q 3. Find the force law for a central force field that yields an orbit equation given by r = k2
for an object of mass m and angular momentum L. Set the energy E = 0.

Q 4. Angular Momentum Conservation The minimum and maximum angular speeds

of Earth are min = 570 /day and max = 610 /day, respectively. What is the eccentricity
of Earths orbit.

Q 5. Expression for Energy, Angular momentum and Eccentricity A comet is ob-

served at a distance 2108 km from the sun travelling with a speed 27.3km/s and making
an angle 30o with the lilne joining the sun to the comet. What is the nature of the orbit?
How close to sun will the comet approach? Given Msun = 2 1030 Kg and consider only
the force of the sun on the comet, neglecting all perturbing planetary forces.

Q 6. Neptune and Pluto have periods of recolution of 165 years and 248 years, respectively.
Neptunes orbit is approximately circular. Plutos perihelion is approximately equal to
the radius of the Neptunes orbit. Obtain the eccentricity of Plutos orbit.

Q 7. Halleys comet appears every 75.7 years. In 1976, it was observed to approach Sun at
a minimum distance of 0.6A.U (Astronomical Unit). Assuming that the comet travels
under the influence of the Sun alone, estimate the outer extreme of its orbit from the
Sun, its eccentricity and the ratio of the maximum orbital speed to minimum orbital
speed.

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Assignment 4 Physics

1A.U 1.5 1011 m, roughly the distance from Earth to the Sun. If T is the time period
of revolution of a planet with mass m around sun of mass Ms , and the semi-major axis
a of the ellipse is in A.U , then the constant

4 2
1year2 /(A.U 3 )
GMs

resulting to T 2 = a3 where T is in years. Check it!!!! Remember G has dimension of

m3 /Kgs2 where seconds needs to be converted to years.

Q 8. In Rutherford scattering, the particle of mass m has impact parameter b and speed
v ( c) at a large distance from a massive target. The force is repulsive of the type
k/r2 . The closest distance of approach is rmin . Express rmin in terms of (k, v, b, m).

Q 9. Consider the motion of a particle of mass m in the central potential U (r) = Crn , where
n is a non-zero integer and C a constant such that Cn > 0. Find the natural length
(rmin )and time scales (period of oscillation) for general n. Establish the corresponding
equivalent of Keplers Third Law in this case. What happens in the case n = 2? Interpret
this in physical terms.

Q 10. A space vehicle is in circular orbit about the earth. The mass of the vehicle is 3000
Kg and the radius of its orbit is 2Re = 12800 km. The space vehicle is to be transferred
to a circular orbit of radius 4Re , where Re is the radius of earth.
(a) What is the minimum energy expenditure required for this transfer.
(b) An efficient way to accomplish the transfer is to use a semi-elliptical orbit (called
a Hohmann transfer orbit), as shown in the figure. What velocity changes are
required at the points of intersection, A and B ?

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