Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2018 iii Paper 321 1 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-05
The corotation radius is where the stellar spin matches Keplerian rotation:A parcel forced into corotation at has outward centrifugal acceleration . This exceeds the inward gravitational acceleration whenThis is the onset condition for a centrifugal propeller effect. It does not by itself guarantee escape to infinity. For example, a parcel released with only azimuthal speed has nonnegative specific orbital energy only ifAdditional magnetic work, radial motion or pressure can alter that escape condition.