Constant-speed ramps for a central force field

Abstract

We investigate the problem of determining the planar curves that describe ramps where a particle of mass $m$ moves with constant-speed when is subject to the action of the friction force and a force whose magnitude $F(r)$ depends only on the distance $r$ from the origin. In this paper we describe all the constant-speed ramps for the case $F(r)=-m/r$. We show the circles and the logarithmic spirals play an important role. No only they are solutions but every other solution approaches either a circle or a logarithmic spiral.

25 pages, 10 figures