In an article at
http://www.metaresearch.org/solar%20...lar-system.asp
Tom Van Flandern describes a theory by which planets are formed as mass
being ejected from a rapidly rotating proto-Sun. He says: "When the
star-disk boundary reaches the overspin condition, the two prolate
bulges on opposite sides of the proto-Sun break away and form twin
proto-planets in low orbits just above the proto-star surface in the
inner disk."
In other words, when the rotation is fast enough, the mass breaks away
and becomes a planet rotating around the Sun.
This is where I have a problem: if the mass is ejected because gravity
is too weak, how then can it stabilise in an orbit around the Sun at an
even farther distance than initially (i.e. when gravity is even
weaker)?
IMHO this theory will not work, but can someone tell me if I am missing
something here? TIA

"proton" wrote in message
oups.com...

In an article at
http://www.metaresearch.org/solar%20...lar-system.asp
Tom Van Flandern describes a theory by which planets are formed as mass
being ejected from a rapidly rotating proto-Sun. He says: "When the
star-disk boundary reaches the overspin condition, the two prolate
bulges on opposite sides of the proto-Sun break away and form twin
proto-planets in low orbits just above the proto-star surface in the
inner disk."
In other words, when the rotation is fast enough, the mass breaks away
and becomes a planet rotating around the Sun.
This is where I have a problem: if the mass is ejected because gravity
is too weak, how then can it stabilise in an orbit around the Sun at an
even farther distance than initially (i.e. when gravity is even
weaker)?
IMHO this theory will not work, but can someone tell me if I am missing
something here? TIA

Van Flandern spews cracked pottery, but ...

Let "m" be the mass of the proto-planet, with angular
velocity, w = v / R, at radius, R, in the gravitational field
of the Sun, g = M G / R^2, whereof the Sun's mass is M.
If centrifugal force exceeds that of gravity, then

m v^2 / R m M G / R^2

Independent of direction, the criterion for escape velocity,
v_e, is given by

Kinetic Energy = | Potential Energy |

(m / 2) (v_e)^2 = m M G / R

Thus v v_e / sqrt(2). So, within the range,

v_e / sqrt(2) v v_e

Within this range, the proto-planet detaches from the
Sun but doesn't escape to infinity. The proto planet
will assume an elliptical orbit with aphelion, R, and
with perihelion r R.

[Old Man]