if it “ran straight”, it wouldn’t have tangential speed, only radial.
Comment on what would happen if a rogue, earth-size planet ran straight into the sun? anything interesting?
RegalPotoo@lemmy.world 4 months ago
For a start, the planet wouldn’t actually collide with the sun on one piece - once the planet crosses the Roche limit it will break apart
A_A@lemmy.world 4 months ago
ilinamorato@lemmy.world 4 months ago
All of the mass would still hit the sun, though.
RegalPotoo@lemmy.world 4 months ago
Yeah, but single large mass hitting in one place vs stuff spread out vs planet forming a ring and deorbiting over months/years would affect the outcome
Practically, I’d think there wouldn’t be a huge effect beyond some CMEs - the mass of the earth is a rounding error compared to the sun - but I’m not a cosmologist
ilinamorato@lemmy.world 4 months ago
I tend to agree, but I also am not a cosmologist.
PoorYorick@lemmy.world 4 months ago
I agree, and I once dated a cosmetologist.
deegeese@sopuli.xyz 4 months ago
Sorry, but that’s wrong.
Roche limit applies in a circular orbit, tidal effects are irrelevant in a head on collision.
willow@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 months ago
Famous example of a comet breaking up from entering Jupiter’s roche limit in a highly eccentric orbit (not circular). Spaghettification is also an example of how tidal forces still apply during a head on collision.
deegeese@sopuli.xyz 4 months ago
Eccentric orbit is still an orbit with tidal forces.
A dead in crash will stretch the sphere, but without angular momentum, it’s just a raindrop.