Difference between revisions of "Roche limit"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
(solid vs. fluid) |
m |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | A [[planet]]'s or [[star]]'s '''Roche limit''' is the smallest distance a satellite (which is held together only by gravitational forces) can approach it without being desintegrated by tidal forces. Generally, there are | + | A [[planet]]'s or [[star]]'s '''Roche limit''' is the smallest distance a satellite (which is held together only by gravitational forces) can approach it without being desintegrated by tidal forces. Generally, there are two forms of the Roche limit: one for a solid satellite, an other, bigger one for a fluid satellite. |
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
*[http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics/RocheLimit.html Wolfram Research] | *[http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics/RocheLimit.html Wolfram Research] | ||
Revision as of 21:08, June 26, 2010
A planet's or star's Roche limit is the smallest distance a satellite (which is held together only by gravitational forces) can approach it without being desintegrated by tidal forces. Generally, there are two forms of the Roche limit: one for a solid satellite, an other, bigger one for a fluid satellite.