Answered: Which of these is the most likely…

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)

9th Edition

ISBN:9780134746241

Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa

Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa

Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1LR

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Question

Which of these is the most likely reason why planetary rings almost all lie closer to their planets than the tidal stability limit?

(Pro Tip: You might see this tidal stability limit called the Roche Limit in other books, or on other quizzes or tests in this course. It's named for an astronomer who studied it mathematically.)

a The tidal stability limit is approximately one-half of the distance to the Sun, so ring particles outside this limit will fall into the Sun.

b Closer to the planet than this limit, tidal forces can break up a moon or prevent one from forming.

c Closer to the planet than this limit, collisions between large moons are so frequent that they are constantly being destroyed.

d Outside of this limit, the gravitational pull of the planet is so weak that it can't hang onto ring particles, and they get captured by other planets' gravity.

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