Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 split into many pieces before crashing into Jupiter because
A) the comet collided with a moon of Jupiter.
B) the comet came within the Roche limit of Jupiter.
C) the comet melted as it absorbed sunlight.
D) the comet crossed an Lagrangian equilibrium point.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Roche limit is the distance from a planet at which tidal forces exceed the strength of an object, causing it to break apart. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 came within the Roche limit of Jupiter, which caused it to break up into many pieces before crashing into the planet.

Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Split into Many Pieces Before Crashing into Jupiter