Tidal evolution and hydrostatic equilibrium of phobos

Summary A dynamical model of Phobos has been set up: its boundary surface is defined by the 2nd degree Stokes zonal and sectorial parameters, the mass and angular velocity of rotation of the body (assumed homogeneous), plus the constant part of the tidal potential due to Mars which is relatively very large. The tidal evolution has been outlined, based on the condition that, at a certain epoch, the sum of the tidal and centrifugal forces on the surface of Phobos should be equal to the gravitation of opposite sign. The problem of hydrostatic equilibrium of Phobos is discussed.

---

ma ¶rt;uaua ¶rt; a: aa nm n¶rt;a m a u mua mu naamau, a u m au ma uma ¶rt;¶rt;, n nm am nuu nmuaa m aa, m aum aum. aa nuua u, aa nu u, m m n a nuu u m u a nmu a aum u numu. ¶rt;am nau¶rt;mamu au a.