Quote:
Originally Posted by Insane Climber
That's very interesting. But i was thinking there must be a ratio, that we could calculate. As to the minimum distance, that a certain sun/planet masses could be. before this would happen.
Is it OK to just use the old centrifugal force equation and calculate how fast it would have to go before the gravitational "string" would balance? then work back until you found where the point is that the planet would either pull apart or fall into the sun.??
|
It is based on the Roche limit where the gravitational force on the body is equal to the tidal force on the body. The Roche limit involves a number of factors such as the rigidity of the body, the mass of the Sun and the body, and the radius of the body.
The tidal force is simply the difference in gravitational force exerted on a body. For example the sunlit side of Mercury is subjected to a higher gravitational force than the opposite side which is further away from the Sun (inverse square law).
It is possible for the Roche limit to be
inside the Sun for a given body in which case a body will never break up irrespective of how close it is to the Sun.
Regards
Steven