Distance of Closest Approach equation

[c299792458]

Homework Statement

What is the distance of closest approach in terms of the impact parameter and the limiting value of the speed as r tends to infinity?

Homework Equations

N/A

The Attempt at a Solution

This is not a h/w question, it's an equation I need to do my h/w...

 

[henry_m]

I'm guessing you're working out orbits of massive particles in GR. The key in these sorts of questions is conserved quantities. How far have you managed to get?

 

[c299792458]

Hi, henry,
Actually this is not GR... It's more like Rutherford scattering... But your point still holds. Energy is conserved since it is motion in a conservative field. I'm supposed to use that equation to derive some approximations by Taylor expansion, etc.

Thanks