Motion under a central force
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Transverse Velocity
The transverse velocity of an object is [Equation goes here - download the original to see it.] We have just seen that [Equation goes here - download the original to see it.]constant Hence [Equation goes here - download the original to see it.] constant That is [Equation goes here - download the original to see it.] constant This means that the distance of the object from the centre of orbit times the transverse velocity is always constant. Objects in orbit move on ellipses, where the centre of gravity lies at one focus. [Diagram goes here - download the original to see it.] If represents the distance of closest approach of the object to the centre of orbit, and is the speed of the object at this point, then [Equation goes here - download the original to see it.] If the object has mass then the quantity represents its angular momentum. The fact that [Equation goes here - download the original to see it.]is constant thus indicates that for an object subject solely to a central force the angular momentum is constant.
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Contents of
Motion under a central force
1 Motion under a central force
2 Transverse Velocity
3 Kepler's Second Law
4 Motion under gravity
5 Energy and central force systems
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