If Saturn floats, then what happens?

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SUMMARY

This discussion explores the hypothetical scenario of Saturn floating in a massive body of water, such as a bathtub filled to 50,000 miles. The immense hydrostatic pressure would transform most of the water into exotic high-density ice, regardless of temperature. As Saturn enters the water, its rings and moons would create spectacular visual effects, while a tidal wave would form around the planet. Ultimately, the scenario concludes with Saturn collapsing under its own gravity, potentially becoming a star or white dwarf, depending on the solar mass of the surrounding water.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of hydrostatic pressure and its effects on water
  • Basic knowledge of planetary science and celestial bodies
  • Familiarity with concepts of gravity and mass
  • Awareness of the characteristics of Saturn's rings and moons
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties of high-density ice under extreme pressure
  • Explore the physics of tidal waves and their formation
  • Investigate the lifecycle of stars and conditions for white dwarf formation
  • Examine the dynamics of celestial bodies interacting with water
USEFUL FOR

Science enthusiasts, educators, and students interested in planetary science, physics, and the hypothetical scenarios involving celestial mechanics.

godwinfh
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As a fun teaching tool for several areas of math and science, imagine that happening. The planet floats in water. What happens next and how does it look? Has anybody thought this through and made an animated video?
First fill your tub to about the 50,000 mile mark. Surprise: most of the water turns into exotic high-density ice, due to the enormous hydrostatic pressure (assuming you have gravity, which you need to keep the water in place.) This happens even if the water’s boiling hot.
So Saturn starts off sitting high and mostly dry, unless you crank your gravity down a lot.
So in it (he?) goes. Briefly we’re distracted by the gorgeous shooting-star effect of the rings and the dozen or two moons burning up in our air and making incandescent splashes as they plunge to their own tiny dooms.
Around the planet a tidal wave higher than Earth rises and radiates outward. Then we see all kinds of fizzing, bubbling and popping, on a majestically slow (planetary) scale. A shock wave of mist swells outward, moving at the speed of sound in the gas and taking hours to envelop the planet. I suppose eventually we're left with the stone core.
Somebody should explore this idea further!
Felix, New Market, Alabama
 
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Saturn floats in a big enough bathtub, but leaves a ring.
 
Hypothetically, if we could find a tub big enough to float Saturn in, it would collapse under its own gravitational pull into a star or white dwarf depending on the SM (solar mass) of the tub and the water.

Interesting idea though godwinfh
 

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