Chapter 17: The Torn Meteor
When a gravitational source exerts force on an object, the varying distances of points on the object from the source cause differences in gravitational strength, resulting in a tearing effect. This difference in gravitational force is known as tidal force.
Expanding this concept to the universe, tidal force is omnipresent.
When an object’s mass is large enough, it becomes a gravitational source.
In space, whether it is the radiant Sun or Blue Planet itself, or the Moon orbiting Blue Planet, and the many planets within the Solar System, all belong to gravitational sources.
However, under normal circumstances, tidal forces cannot tear an object apart. The simplest example is Blue Planet itself.
Blue Planet is influenced by the dual gravitational sources of the Moon and the Sun, and the tidal phenomena on Blue Planet are manifestations of tidal force, yet Blue Planet itself has not been torn apart by the gravity of the Sun and the Moon.
But the meteorite that is about to collide with Blue Planet is different this time.
First of all, its size is neither too large nor too small. Once it entered the Earth-Moon system, it was influenced by the triple gravitation of the Moon, Blue Planet, and the Sun.