Using the theory of geodesics on surfaces of revolution, we introduce the
period function. We use this as our main tool in showing that any
two-dimensional orbifold of revolution homeomorphic to S^2 must contain an
infinite number of geometrically distinct closed geodesics. Since any such
orbifold of revolution can be regarded as a topological two-sphere with metric
singularities, we will have extended Bangert's theorem on the existence of
infinitely many closed geodesics on any smooth Riemannian two-sphere. In
addition, we give an example of a two-sphere cone-manifold of revolution which
possesses a single closed geodesic, thus showing that Bangert's result does not
hold in the wider class of closed surfaces with cone manifold structures.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures; for a PDF version see
http://www.calpoly.edu/~jborzell/Publications/publications.htm