2010/04/07 by Charles H. Lineweaver, M. D. Norman, Lineweaver, Charles H. +1 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #Planetary Science and Exploration
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1004.1091
Gravitational and electronic forces produce a correlation between the mass and shape of objects in the universe. For example, at an average radius of ~ 200 km - 300 km, the icy moons and rocky asteroids of our Solar System transition from a rounded potato shape to a sphere. We derive this potato-to-sphere transition radius -- or "potato radius" -- from first principles. Using the empirical potato radii of asteroids and icy moons, we derive a constraint on the yield strength of these bodies during their formative years when their shapes were determined. Our proposed ~ 200 km potato radius for icy moons would substantially increase the number of trans-Neptunian objects classified as dwarf planets.