Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2023 / ii / Paper 3 / 36A / b / Solution

PutBecause $dR/ds=-n\cdot v$, differentiation givesA massive charge has the subluminal speed $|v|<c$, so $F^{\prime }(s)>0$. Hence $F$ is strictly increasing, and $F(s)=t$ has at most one root. This is the uniqueness of retarded time for a subluminal source.