Law of Two Bodies: Smaller Body Breaks Up

[sahd0w]

Does anyone know the name of the law that says that if 2 bodies of different sizes are orbiting each other, the smaller one will break up if its a certain size to the other one?

 

[quasar987]

Tides?!

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[pervect]

Does anyone know the name of the law that says that if 2 bodies of different sizes are orbiting each other, the smaller one will break up if its a certain size to the other one?

You may be thinking of Roche's limit. However, this says that the second body will break up if it orbits too close to the primary, not if "it's a certain size".

 

[sahd0w]

yes that's it! thank you so much. its been bothering me all day and i couldn't find anything on it. yeah i meant anything along the lines of the smaller body being so affected by the larger one that it breaks up hehe. thanks again