A possible YORP effect on C and S Main Belt Asteroids

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

1

Scientific paper

A rotating frequency analysis in a previous paper, showed that two samples of C and S-type asteroids belonging to the Main Belt, but not to any families, present two different values for the transition diameter to a Maxwellian distribution of the rotation frequency, respectively 48 and 33 km. In this paper, after a more detailed statistical analysis, aiming to verify that the result is physically relevant, we found a better estimate for the transition diameter, respectively DC = 44 ± 2 km and DS = 30 ± 1 km. The ratio between these estimated transition diameters, DC/DS = 1.5 ± 0.1, can be supported with the help of the YORP (Yarkovsky-O’Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack) effect, although other physical causes cannot be completely ruled out.In this paper we have derived a simple scaling law for YORP which, taking into account the different average heliocentric distance, the bulk density, the albedo and the asteroid “asymmetry surface factor”, has enabled us to reasonably justify the ratio between the diameters transition of C-type and S-type asteroids. The same scaling law can be used to estimate a new ratio between the bulk densities of S and C asteroids samples (giving ρS/ρC ≈ 2.9 ± 0.3), and can explain why the asteroids near the transition diameter have about the same absolute magnitude. For C-type asteroids, using the found density ratio and other estimates of S-type density, it is also possible to estimate an average bulk density equal to 0.9 ± 0.1 g cm-3, a value compatible with icy composition. The suggested explanation for the difference of the transition diameters is a plausible hypothesis, consistent with the data, but it needs to be studied more in depth with further observations.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

A possible YORP effect on C and S Main Belt Asteroids does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with A possible YORP effect on C and S Main Belt Asteroids, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A possible YORP effect on C and S Main Belt Asteroids will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1596659

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.