X iv : a st ro - p h / 99 11 07 2 v 2 6 N ov 1 99 9 Relaxation of Wobbling Asteroids and Comets . Theoretical Problems . Perspectives of Experimental Observation
نویسنده
چکیده
A body dissipates energy when it freely rotates about any axis different from the axis of the maximal moment of inertia. The effect stems from the fact that the spin about the major-inertia axis corresponds to the minimal kinetic energy, for a fixed angular momentum. Thence one may expect comets and asteroids (as well as spacecrafts or cosmic-dust granules) stay in this, so-called principal, state of rotation, unless they are forced out of this state by a collision, or a tidal interactions, or by cometary jetting, or by whatever other reason. As well known, P/Halley comet and asteroid 4179 Toutatis exhibit very complex rotational motions attributed to these objects being in non-principal states of spin. There may be a possibility that the asteroid and cometary wobble is quite a generic phenomenon. The theory of wobble with inner dissipation has not been well developed as yet. In this article we demonstrate that the effectiveness of the inelastic-dissipation process is several orders higher than believed previously. We show that the presently available observational instruments are capable of measuring the wobble relaxation within a one-year or several-year span.
منابع مشابه
ar X iv : a st ro - p h / 99 11 07 2 v 1 5 N ov 1 99 9 Relaxation of Wobbling Asteroids and Comets . Theoretical Problems . Perspectives of Experimental Observation
A body dissipates energy when it freely rotates about any axis different from the axis of the maximal moment of inertia. The effect stems from the fact that the spin about the major-inertia axis corresponds to the minimal kinetic energy, for a fixed angular momentum. Thence one may expect comets and asteroids (as well as spacecrafts or cosmic-dust granules) stay in this, so-called principal, st...
متن کاملa st ro - p h / 99 11 07 2 v 3 4 D ec 1 99 9 Relaxation of Wobbling Asteroids and Comets . Theoretical Problems . Perspectives of Experimental Observation
A body dissipates energy when it freely rotates about any axis different from principal. This entails relaxation, i.e., decrease of the rotational energy, with the angular momentum preserved. The spin about the major-inertia axis corresponds to the minimal kinetic energy, for a fixed angular momentum. Thence one may expect comets and asteroids (as well as spacecrafts or cosmic-dust granules) st...
متن کاملar X iv : a st ro - p h / 99 11 07 2 v 6 4 D ec 2 00 1 Relaxation of Wobbling Asteroids and Comets . Theoretical Problems . Perspectives of Experimental Observation
A body dissipates energy when it freely rotates about any axis different from principal. This entails relaxation, i.e., decrease of the rotational energy, with the angular momentum preserved. The spin about the major-inertia axis corresponds to the minimal kinetic energy, for a fixed angular momentum. Thence one may expect comets and asteroids (as well as spacecraft or cosmic-dust granules) sta...
متن کاملar X iv : a st ro - p h / 99 11 07 2 v 7 6 D ec 2 00 1 Relaxation of Wobbling Asteroids and Comets . Theoretical Problems . Perspectives of Experimental Observation
A body dissipates energy when it freely rotates about any axis different from principal. This entails relaxation, i.e., decrease of the rotational energy, with the angular momentum preserved. The spin about the major-inertia axis corresponds to the minimal kinetic energy, for a fixed angular momentum. Thence one may expect comets and asteroids (as well as spacecraft or cosmic-dust granules) sta...
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تاریخ انتشار 2008