Saturn's Rings: Why Are They Split?

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Forestman
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Why are Saturns rings broken up into many rings? Why don't they all just orbit together in one massive ring.
 

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Forestman said:
Why are Saturns rings broken up into many rings? Why don't they all just orbit together in one massive ring.

Hi Forestman! :smile:

Because Saturn's moons sweep out gaps at certain "resonant" radii …

each gap can be identified with a particular moon :wink:

(dunno what the maths is, though :redface:)
 

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