🌕 2D Tidal Forces

Differential gravity across a body — near/far bulge, Roche limit

Primary Body

Mass 100 M⊕

Orbit

Distance 60,000 km

Orbit speed 1.0×

Secondary Body

Radius 1,700 km

Live readout

Tidal accel.

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Roche limit

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Bulge height

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Dist / Roche

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Status: Intact

Tidal acceleration is the difference in gravitational pull between a body's near and far side: a_tidal = 2GM·r / d³ (r = secondary radius, d = center-to-center distance). Cross the Roche limit and self-gravity can no longer hold the body together.

near-side pull far-side pull