neworder1
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Homework Statement
Show that in a central force field [tex]\vec{F}(\vec{r})=f(r)\frac{\vec{r}}{r}[/tex] the equation for a body's trajectory in terms of [tex]u=\frac{1}{r}[/tex] is given by:
[tex]\ddot{u}+u=-\frac{mf(\frac{1}{u})}{L^{2}u^{2}}[/tex]
where m is the body's mass and L is the angular momentum
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
Transforming Newton's equations for [tex]\ddot{r}[/tex] leads to ab equation for [tex]\ddot{u}[/tex] and [tex]u[/tex] where unfortunately [tex]\dot{u}[/tex] also appears and I don't know how to eliminate it from the equation.