Finding the (Newtonian) movement equation of an object in a gravitational field

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on deriving the movement equation for an object in a gravitational field using Newtonian mechanics. The key equation presented is the gravitational acceleration, defined as g = G(m/r²), where G is the gravitational constant, m is the mass of the object, and r is the distance from the center of gravity. The user attempts to express the second derivative of position, r''(t), in terms of gravitational force, leading to the equation r''(t) = -G(m/r(t)²). The challenge lies in solving this differential equation to find r(t), which involves recognizing the relationship between position, velocity, and acceleration.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's laws of motion
  • Familiarity with differential equations
  • Knowledge of gravitational force and acceleration concepts
  • Basic calculus, particularly derivatives and integrals
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  • Study the derivation of motion equations in gravitational fields
  • Learn techniques for solving second-order differential equations
  • Explore the relationship between position, velocity, and acceleration in physics
  • Investigate numerical methods for simulating gravitational motion
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Students studying classical mechanics, physicists interested in gravitational dynamics, and anyone working on problems involving motion in gravitational fields.

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This is a problem I've been looking to solve for some time.

Homework Statement


You must find a movement equation for an object in a gravitational field knowing traditional formulas of force and acceleration of gravity (see below).

Homework Equations



absolute value of the acceleration at a distance 'r' from the centre of gravity of an object with mass 'm'

[itex]g=G\frac{m}{r^{2}}[/itex]

'r' as a movement equation

[itex]r=r(t)[/itex]
[itex]r''(t)=-g[/itex]

The Attempt at a Solution



[itex]r''(t)=-G\frac{m}{r(t)^{2}}[/itex]
[itex]r''(t)r(t)^{2}=-Gm[/itex]

I don't really know what to do next. It seems that r(t) has at least one constant term and it's of degree>2 if it's a polynomial (as acceleration changes). I know nothing more than that.
 
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It might help to rewrite as
[tex]\frac{d^2r}{dt^2}r^2 = -Gm[/tex]
After this you should use a relationship you know linking position, velocity and acceleration mathematically.
 

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