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ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2019/iii/paper-321/1/a/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 iii Paper 321 1 a Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
Put . On the midplane, circular orbit balance gives . The specific angular momentum, specific orbital energy and orbital shear parameter of a Paczyński-Wiita circular orbit are thereforeFor a small radial displacement at fixed specific angular momentum, the effective potential stability criterion gives the radial epicyclic frequencyHere is the question's epicyclic . Its square is negative for , so a radial displacement grows instead of undergoing epicyclic motion. The orbit at is marginal, and the outer orbits are stable to small radial displacements. At this inner edge,This efficiency belongs to the Paczyński-Wiita potential; it is an approximation to the relativistic black-hole result.
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