- Bonnet's theorem
In
classical mechanics , Bonnet's theorem states that if "n" differentforce fields each produce the same geometric orbit (say, an ellipse of given dimensions) albeit with differentspeed s "v"1, "v"2,...,"v""n" at a given point "P", then the same orbit will be followed if the speed at point "P" equals:
This theorem was first derived by
Adrien-Marie Legendre in 1817, [cite book | last = Legendre | first = A-M | authorlink = Adrien-Marie Legendre | year = 1817 | title = Exerc. de Calc. Int. | volume = 2 | pages = 383–? |url = http://www.archive.org/details/exercicescalculi02legerich] but it is named afterPierre Ossian Bonnet .Derivation
The shape of an
orbit is determined only by thecentripetal force s at each point of the orbit, which are the forces acting perpendicular to the orbit. By contrast, forces "along" the orbit change only the speed, but not the direction, of thevelocity .Let the instantaneous radius of curvature at a point "P" on the orbit be denoted as "R". For the "k"th force field that produces that orbit, the force normal to the orbit "F""k" must provide the
centripetal force :
Adding all these forces together yields the equation
:
Hence, the combined force-field produces the same orbit if the speed at a point "P" is set equal to
:
References
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