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We have to solve $$\frac{d^2r}{dt^2} - \frac{h^2}{r^3} =
-\frac{GM}{r^2}$$. $h = r^2\frac{d\theta}{dt}$ is constant , so $\frac{d\theta}{dt} =
hu^2$Putting $u = \frac{1}{r}$ we have $$\frac{dr}{dt} =
\frac{dr}{du}\frac{du}{d\theta}\frac{d\theta}{dt} =
-\frac{1}{u^2}\frac{du}{d\theta}\frac{h}{u^2} =
-h\frac{du}{d\theta}$$ Therefore $$\frac{d^2r}{dt^2} =
-h\frac{d}{dt}\Big(\frac{du}{d\theta}\Big) =
-h\frac{d\theta}{dt}\frac{d^2u}{d\theta^2} =
-h^2u^2\frac{d^2u}{d\theta^2}$$ Our differential equation now
becomes $$h^2u^2\frac{d^2u}{d\theta^2} - h^2u^3 = -\frac{GM}{u^2}
\Rightarrow \frac{d^2u}{d\theta^2} - u = -\frac{GM}{h^2}$$ which
has a general solution $u(\theta) = \frac{GM}{h^2} + A\cos{\theta}
+ B\sin{\theta}$ for constants $A$ and $B$.
Now we substitute back to $r$, and get $$r =
\frac{1}{\frac{GM}{h^2} + A\cos{\theta} + B\sin{\theta}} =
\frac{\frac{h^2}{GM}}{1 + \frac{Ah^2}{GM}\sin{\theta} +
\frac{Bh^2}{GM}\cos{\theta}} = \frac{\frac{h^2}{GM}}{1 +
e\cos{(\theta + f)}}$$ for some $e$ and $f$. Therefore $h^2 = GMr(1
+ e\cos{(\theta + f)})$. We leave sketching this graph for
different values of $e$ an open problem. Send in any
attempts!