Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2019/iii/paper-316/1/v/solution

At periapsis, the particle's mean longitude equals its longitude of periapsis: . Hence the pericentre geometry of an exterior resonance gives
The resonant argument therefore fixes the angular separation from the planet whenever the particle reaches periapsis. With and planetary radius , the actual separation is
Thus a restricted libration phase can prevent close encounters even when the radial ranges of the two orbits overlap: this is resonance protection.

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