Rotational bursting of small celestial bodies: Effects of radiation pressure

Abstract

Solar radiation pressure can cause rotational bursting and eventual elimination from the solar system of small nonmagnetic bodies in space by a sort of windmill effect. A time to bursting of about sixty years was calculated for an idealized body. On the basis of a simple experiment, it is estimated that actual bodies, such as nonmagnetic meteorites and tektites, will reach bursting speed in about 60,000 years.