Poynting-Robertson effect

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Named after English physicist John Henry Poynting (1852–1914) and American mathematician Howard P. Robertson (1903–1961).

Proper noun[edit]

the Poynting-Robertson effect

  1. (astrophysics) A process by which solar radiation causes a dust grain orbiting a star to lose angular momentum relative to its orbit around the star.
    Synonym: Poynting-Robertson drag