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Which object's tidal forces would cause the moon's disintegration? I'm guessing either the Earth's, or the Sun's. I've only become aware of Roche limits from yo
by mcstafford 9y ago
Which object's tidal forces would cause the moon's disintegration? I'm guessing either the Earth's, or the Sun's. I've only become aware of Roche limits from your comment, and glanced at the Wikipedia page, but don't really understand them.
- gizmo686 9y agoTidal forces result from the difference in the strength of gravity at different sides of a body. Because we are so far away from the Sun, it does not exert any (significant) tidal force on us or the Moon. Moreover, the amount of tidal force exerting by the Sun is not affected by the distance the Moon orbits at [0]. In contrast, the moon is close enough to the Earth that those tidal forces are significant, and would drive the Roche disintegration. (They are also what drive the tides, the moons current orbital changes, and why many moons are tidally locked). [0] Technically, a smaller orbit will make the tidal force exerted by the Sun slightly more constant.