Small oscillations of constrained particle

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Homework Statement


Consider a particle of mass m constrained to move on the surface of a paraboloid whose equation (in cylindrical coordinates) is [tex]r^2=4az[/tex]. If the particle is subject to a gravitational force, show that the frequency of small oscillations about a cirrcular orbit with radius [tex]\rho=\sqrt{4az_0}[/tex] is

[tex]\omega=\sqrt{\frac{2g}{a+z_0}}[/tex]


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I'm aware that the [tex]\omega[/tex] must come from the equation:

[tex]\ddot{x}+\omega x=0[/tex]

This DiffEq comes from [tex]F=m\ddot{x}[/tex], so we need [tex]F=-\frac{2gm}{a+z_0}[/tex].

The only definition of g goes to [tex]\frac{MG}{R^2}[/tex], so we must be looking for a force [tex]F=-\frac{mMG}{R^2}*\frac{2}{a+z_0}[/tex]

My attempt is based on looking at the radial component of a gravitational force pulling out of the plane along [tex]\hat{s}[/tex], however, every time, I get:

[tex]\vec{F}=-\frac{mMG}{S^2}\hat{s}[/tex], where the radial component would be [tex]\vec{F}\bullet\hat{r}[/tex]


In a nutshell...my answer keeps turning up wrong.
 
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The particle is rotating about z axis and in equilibrium at z = z0. First consider equilibrium of particle in the circular orbit and then think of its oscillation on the surface.
 
mukundpa said:
The particle is rotating about z axis and in equilibrium at z = z0. First consider equilibrium of particle in the circular orbit and then think of its oscillation on the surface.

That's exactly what I'm doing, but I can't get the correct answer.
 
I'm going to make a late bump on this thread because I still haven't solved this problem.