Which of the following played the most important role in the ring's formation?
A)Saturn's differential rotation
B)Saturn's Roche limit
C)Saturn's distance from the Sun
D)debris from volcanoes on Mimas
E)tidal resonance with Titan

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Saturn's Roche limit played the most important role in the formation of the rings. This is the distance from the planet where the tidal forces of Saturn exceed the gravitational forces holding together the particles that make up the ring. At this point, any particles within the Roche limit will break apart and become a new ring. Saturn's Roche limit refers to the distance at which a celestial object held together only by its gravity will disintegrate due to tidal forces exerted by the planet. The Roche limit is an important factor in the formation of Saturn's rings, as it is believed that the debris that makes up the rings originated from a shattered moon or other celestial body that was within Saturn's Roche limit.

Which of the Following Played the Most Important Role in the Ring's