All Problems

Mechanical Oscillations

Problem 4.37

A particle of mass mm moves due to the force F=αmr\mathbf{F}=-\alpha m \mathbf{r} where α\alpha is a positive constant, r\mathbf{r} is the radius vector of the particle relative to the origin of coordinates. Find the trajectory of its motion if at the initial moment r=r0i\mathbf{r}=r_{0} \mathbf{i} and the velocity v=v0j,\mathbf{v}=v_{0} \mathbf{j}, where i\mathbf{i} and j\mathbf{j} are the unit vectors of the xx and yy axes.

Reveal Answer
(x/r0)2+α(y/v0)2=1\left(x / r_{0}\right)^{2}+\alpha\left(y / v_{0}\right)^{2}=1