Enter the mass of the central object and the satellite density into the calculator to determine the Roche limit.

Roche Limit Formula

The following equation is used to calculate a Roche limit.

R = [ (100*M) / (9*pi*p) ] ^ 1/3

  • Where R is the Roch limit also known as the radius
  • M is the mass of the central object
  • p is the density of the satellite

Roche Limit Definition

The Roche Limit is defined as the distance from the center of an object at which orbiting objects would form rings around that body.

Roche Limit Example

How to calculate the Roche Limit?

  1. First, determine the mass of the central object.

    Calculate the mass of the larger object.

  2. Next, determine the density of the satellite.

    Calculate the density of the orbiting object.

  3. Finally, calculate the Roche Limit

    Calculate the Roche Limit using the formula above.

FAQ

What is the Roche limit?

The Roche limit is the distance at which an orbiting object or satellite will form rings around a larger body. This is also known as the point at which an object will be captured.

How is the Roche limit calculated?

The limit depends only on the mass of the central object and the density of the satellite.