[meteorite-list] Effects of travel through space on comets?

From: E.P. Grondine <epgrondine_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2006 19:38:22 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <256883.54756.qm_at_web36905.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

Hi all -

I was just wondering if any of you have given any
thought to this -

While we generally think of space as a vacuum, in fact
it is not. There are "dust" particles (some of them
chonrdules?), and if I remember correctly, about 1
molecule of hydrogen per cubic meter -

Now at normal speeds, this would be a vacuum. But
comets don't travel at "normal" speeds. I am reminded
of the swimmer who dives from too high a height - the
water becomes awful hard.

I wonder if drag might change a comet's debris stream,
putting larger pieces at the head, and smaller pieces
at the end?


good hunting,
Ed





 
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Received on Fri 08 Dec 2006 10:38:22 PM PST