Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2019/iii/paper-316/1/v/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 iii Paper 316 1 v Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
At periapsis, the particle's mean longitude equals its longitude of periapsis: . Hence the pericentre geometry of an exterior resonance givesThe resonant argument therefore fixes the angular separation from the planet whenever the particle reaches periapsis. With and planetary radius , the actual separation isThus 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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