In statistical
orbital mechanics, a body's dynamical lifetime refers to the mean time that a small body can be expected to remain in its current
mean motion resonance. Classic examples are
comet
A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, warms and begins to release gases, a process that is called outgassing. This produces a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena ar ...
s and
asteroid
An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere.
...
s which evolve from the 7:3
resonance
Resonance describes the phenomenon of increased amplitude that occurs when the frequency of an applied periodic force (or a Fourier component of it) is equal or close to a natural frequency of the system on which it acts. When an oscillatin ...
to the 5:2 resonance with
Jupiter's orbit with dynamical lifetimes of 1-100 Ma.
References
Celestial mechanics
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