Re: (SNES) Re: On the lighter side

[Les Coleman <colemans@riconnect.com>]

Hi Guys,


> Very neat! It brings to mind a question about the approach of a killer 
> asteroid, though. Would it likely survive in one big chunk as it approached 
> Earth - as seen in so many sci-fi movies - or would it be ripped apart by 
> gravitational forces prior to the actual collision? Not that our fate would 
> be much different!

The answer to that is quite simple, "it depends". When bodies come 
inside the Roche Limit, they don't necessarily fall apart. It depends on 
two factors, the tensile strength of the body and the diameter of the 
body. For example, a loose pile of sand would come apart fairly easily, 
but a crossbraced ball of steel would survive. A thin globe of steel 50 
miles across would come apart while that same steel globe crumpled into 
a "tin foil" ball would survive.

You should also remember that gravity can add to the tensile strength of 
a body approaching the Earth. For example, a ball of neutronium would 
hold together very nicely (although the Earth might not).

Les
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