Terrestrial planets formation: the case of inefficient colisions

• Grant number: 16/03830-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2016
• End date: November 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Solar System Astronomy
• Principal Investigator: Othon Cabo Winter
• Grantee: Patrick Franco de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEG). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Guaratinguetá. Guaratinguetá , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/08171-3 - Orbital dynamics of minor bodies, AP.TEM

Abstract

Terrestrial planets formation studies are usually based in N-body numerical simulations, where planetesimals and/or embryoscollisions are considered constructive, i.e. generating a new body with a mass vivem by the sum of the masses involved and the total angular momentum is conserved. This approach work reasonably well for the formation of the Earth, Venus and Mars. However, the planet Mercury shows characteristics that classify it as body formed only by a nucleus, without a mantle. This can be attributed to the result of inefficient collisions, that are those in which two bodies in advanced stages of formation (protoplanets) collide resulting in other two bodies with loss of material. This kind of information can be obtained through numerical simulations in which are registered the collision conditions (relative position and the bodies velocity vector). (AU)