Physics · Stars
Spaghettification
Say it: spuh-get-ih-fih-KAY-shun IPA: /spəˌɡɛtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ noun
Spaghettification: The stretching and transverse squeezing of an object by extreme tidal forces.
Near a sufficiently compact mass, the end of an object closer to that mass can be pulled much harder than the far end. The difference distorts the object rather than moving all of it equally.
- Example
- The star's disruption illustrated the tidal stretching nicknamed spaghettification.
- Why astronomers use it
- It makes the consequences of a strong gravitational gradient easier to picture.
- Tiny cosmic connection
- It is not automatically something that starts at an event horizon; its severity depends on the mass and distance involved.
Observatory Physics Stars
Where to check it
Written for Cool Moon Facts in its own words; the sources cover the same idea in more depth.