Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2018/iii/paper-316/2/ii/solution

Using and , differentiate each apsidal distance. The apsidal evolution under Poynting–Robertson drag is
Both the pericentre distance and apocentre distance decrease. Since and , the same rates are
Their ratio is
In particular gives , whereas the circular limit gives slope .

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