- #1
GabrielLight
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If a celestial body's kinetic energy (say, the Moon's) surpassed the energy necessary to exceed the gravitational binding energy (GBE), would said body break apart because of it?
For example, the Moon is currently orbiting the Earth at a speed of 1020 meters per second, giving it a kinetic energy of roughly 3.8e28 joules. Its gravitational binding energy is approximately 1.24e29 joules. If it suddenly (and somehow) accelerated to 100,000 meters per second, grossly exceeding its gravitational binding energy, would it break apart or anything from the strain?
Thanks in advance.
For example, the Moon is currently orbiting the Earth at a speed of 1020 meters per second, giving it a kinetic energy of roughly 3.8e28 joules. Its gravitational binding energy is approximately 1.24e29 joules. If it suddenly (and somehow) accelerated to 100,000 meters per second, grossly exceeding its gravitational binding energy, would it break apart or anything from the strain?
Thanks in advance.