- #1
Brummell
- 2
- 0
Homework Statement
A particle of mass "m" and electric charge "q" moves without friction along an ellipse in the horizontal plane, in the presence of a constant electric field of intensity E directed along the large semiaxis of the ellipse.
Write the Lagrange function
Homework Equations
We now, obviously the ellipse equation so we choose as general coordinates:
X1 = a*cos(phi) X2 = b*sin(phi)
The Attempt at a Solution
L = T - U;
T = m/2*(X1'squared + X2' squared)
But U?