An article that recently appeared in this Journal1 propagates an error first published here more than 20 years ago.2 This concerns a proposed use of the Lenz vector3 in obtaining the rate of precession of the perihelion for a central‐force problem in which the potential has a small departure from the Newtonian form, V(r)=k/r. Three correct solutions to this problem are presented, based on the effective‐potential technique, on the method of averages, and on a careful use of the Lenz vector.4
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© 1990 American Association of Physics Teachers.
1990
American Association of Physics Teachers
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