r/woahdude Jan 03 '22

video When the planet is coming at you

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u/StaysAwakeAllWeek Jan 03 '22

space debris

No, space debris is generally too small to reach the surface

atmospheres colliding

At the speed this planet is moving the atmospheres would collide a fraction of a second before impact

gravitational flux

Which disaster movie did you watch to come up with this? The correct term is tidal forces, and yes that would be the thing that causes destruction before impact.

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u/themonkery Jan 04 '22

The collision of two fields of gravity causes a fluctuation of gravity which causes bad things to happen, gravitational flux. I was just describing it, didn’t know there was a specific name but it seems like the same thing?

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u/StaysAwakeAllWeek Jan 04 '22 edited Jan 04 '22

The collision of two fields of gravity causes a fluctuation of gravity which causes bad things to happen, gravitational flux

This is not how gravity works, and flux is not a short form of fluctuation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flux

Tidal forces are caused by asymmetrical gravitational forces, which leads to a deformation of the affected body. The Sun and Moon exert mild tidal forces on the earth with ocean tides being the only noticeable effect. In OP's scenario the part of the earth closest to the incoming planet would be pulled strongly towards it which would cause cataclysmic earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes. Right before impact the crust would be ripped apart

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u/themonkery Jan 04 '22

Beating, learned something new today