The Centrifugal Force in Elliptical Motion

Frederick David Tombe, 11th January 2017, sirius184@hotmail.com

Abstract: The purpose of presenting this standard derivation, largely copied from applied maths
notes taken at Queens University, Belfast, in 1979, is to show that centrifugal force is as real as gravity, and that no rotating frame of
reference is necessary in order to observe it.

As per Keplers first law of planetary motion, a comet traces out an elliptical
path about the Sun, with the Sun at the focus of the ellipse. A point of closest
approach known as perihelion is reached where gravity is no longer able to pull
it any closer. When this point is reached, the comet rebounds back outwards
again. The following analysis exposes the kinds of forces that need to be
involved in such a harmonic motion.
The equation for an ellipse is,
h/r = 1 e.cos

(1)

where r is the distance from the focus to the perimeter, is the angle subtended
by the line of r and the major axis. The constants e and h are respectively the
eccentricity and the semi-latus rectum, related to each other by h = x(1 e)
where x is the semi-major axis. The semi-minor axis y is related to the semilatus rectum through h = y/x.
If we differentiate equation (1) with respect to time, we obtain,
h/r.r/t = e.sin./t

(2)

Keplers second law of planetary motion tells us that angular momentum is

constant in a planetary orbit. Using L for the constant, it follows therefore that,
r/t = L

(3)

Substituting (3) into (2) eliminates the r factor, reducing it to,

r/t = (eL/h).sin

(4)

and hence,
r/t = (eL/h).cos./t

(5)

Using (3) again, this time in (5), reintroduces the r factor and hence,
1

r/t = [(eL/h).cos]/r

(6)

Substituting the cos term in equation (1) into equation (6) and multiplying
through by m for inertial mass leads to,
mr/t = a/r b/r

(7)

This is Leibnizs equation for a planetary orbit where the constant a is equal to
mL and where the constant b is equal to mL/h. The inverse cube law term is
the centrifugal force. This is an outward acting force which causes comets to
rebound at perihelion since an inverse cube law increases at a faster rate than
the inward acting inverse square law. It is a common error to avoid
acknowledging the involvement of centrifugal force in planetary orbital
behaviour. The popular tendency is to mask the presence of this force behind
lesser informative terminologies such as inertia.
The constant b follows from Keplers third law of planetary motion and it is
proportional to gravitational mass. The inverse square law term is gravity which
is a centripetal force. It is another common error, encouraged by Newton [1], to
think that centrifugal force is an equal and opposite reaction to centripetal force
when in fact they are two completely independent forces, both active in their
own right.

References
[1] Swetz, Frank J., Learn From The Masters An Episode in the History of Celestial Mechanics, page 269 Mathematical Association of
America (1996)
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=gqGLohWYrEC&pg=PA269&dq=reaction+fictitious+rotating+frame+%22centrifugal+force%22&hl=en#v=onepage&q=reaction%20fictitious%20r
otating%20frame%20%22centrifugal%20force%22&f=false