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The document discusses central force motion, focusing on the gravitational and electrostatic forces acting on planets and electrons, respectively. It explains that a central force is directed towards or away from a fixed point, and its characteristics determine whether it is attractive or repulsive. The conservation of angular momentum in central force motion leads to planar motion, and the equations of motion can be derived using Lagrangian mechanics in polar coordinates.

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beherajetsatya
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3K views9 pages

Bbokk

The document discusses central force motion, focusing on the gravitational and electrostatic forces acting on planets and electrons, respectively. It explains that a central force is directed towards or away from a fixed point, and its characteristics determine whether it is attractive or repulsive. The conservation of angular momentum in central force motion leads to planar motion, and the equations of motion can be derived using Lagrangian mechanics in polar coordinates.

Uploaded by

beherajetsatya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CENTRAL FORCE MOTION

Motion of the Planets around the Sun

Gravitational Force

𝑚𝑀
𝐹∝ 2
𝑟
Motion of the Electrons around the Nucleus

Electrostatic Force

𝑞𝑄
𝐹∝ 2
𝑟
Central Force
• The force is said to be central force, if it is always directed towards or away from
a fixed point, called the centre of force and the magnitude of this force is a
function of the distance from that fixed point.

• Mathematically central force can be written as 𝐹Ԧ 𝑟12 = 𝑟12


Ƹ 𝑓(𝑟12 )

• If we choose the origin as the centre of force, then the force can be written as

𝑭 𝒓 = 𝒓ො 𝒇 𝒓 (Where 𝑟Ԧ = 𝑟𝑟
Ƹ is the position vector of moving particle)

• If 𝒇(𝒓) is positive (i.e. 𝒇 𝒓 > 𝟎), then the force is a repulsive force

• If 𝒇(𝒓) is negative (i.e. 𝒇 𝒓 < 𝟎), then the force is an attractive force.
➢ The central force 𝐹Ԧ is always parallel or antiparallel to the position vector of
moving particle 𝑟.
Ԧ
Thus 𝑟Ԧ × 𝐹Ԧ = 𝒓 × 𝒓ො 𝒇 𝒓 = 0

➢ But we know that Torque 𝜏Ԧ = 𝑟Ԧ × 𝐹Ԧ and


if torque is zero, then angular momentum
𝑑𝐽 Ԧ
Ԧ
of the system 𝐽 is conserved. (Because 𝜏Ԧ = )
𝑑𝑡

➢ Again conservation of angular momentum 𝐽Ԧ means the direction of 𝐽Ԧ is constant


and its magnitude is also constant.
➢ But Angular momentum 𝐽Ԧ = 𝑟Ԧ × 𝑃 = 𝑟Ԧ × 𝑚𝑣Ԧ

➢ i.e. the direction of 𝐽Ԧ is that of the normal to the plane containing 𝑟Ԧ and 𝑣.
Ԧ

➢ So the direction of 𝐽Ԧ is fixed implies that 𝑟Ԧ and 𝑣Ԧ must always lie in a fixed plane.

➢ Thus the motion of the particle under central force takes place in a plane.

➢ Again conservation of angular momentum implies

these problems are spherical symmetric problems. 𝑱Ԧ

𝑟Ԧ

𝒎𝒗
➢ For symmetric problems particularly spherical symmetric problem, non-
Cartesian co-ordinate system is very useful.

➢ Since central force motion is confined in a plane, we prefer plane polar co-
ordinates for solving this problem.
Equation of motion under central force
Using plane polar coordinates (𝑟, 𝜃), the Lagrangian of the system moving under central force
1
can be written as 𝐿 = 𝑇 − 𝑉 = 𝜇 𝑟ሶ 2 + 𝑟 2 𝜃ሶ 2 − 𝑉(𝑟)
2

𝑚1 𝑚2
𝜇= is the reduced mass for the two body system
𝑚1 +𝑚2

1 1 1
i.e. = + (𝜇 is always less than 𝑚1 and 𝑚2 )
𝜇 𝑚1 𝑚2

Equation of motion for the system can be found by using Lagrange’s equation in ‘𝑟’
𝑑 𝜕𝐿 𝜕𝐿
− =0
𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝑟ሶ 𝜕𝑟

𝑑 𝜕𝐿 𝜕𝐿
and Lagrange’s equation in ‘𝜃’ − =0
𝑑𝑡 𝜕𝜃ሶ 𝜕𝜃

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