Impact Break-Up of Cometary Nuclei – Conclusions from Impact Experiments

Experiments of impact-generated break-up of icy and icy/mineral targets were performed. Formulae for the velocity of ejecta and for energy of disruption were fitted to the experimental data. An assumption that these formulae can be extrapolated for kilometer-size bodies enabled us to discuss the consequences of impacts on cometary nuclei and on planetesimals. It was found that the porosity of the targets as well as their composition (mineral to total mass ratio), are the crucial parameters.