Hey Greenleaf.
Is it possible to code tidal forces?
...
if a small planet gets to close to the larger planet a large or small stream of practicals comes out the back end of the small planet, and the small planet hits the larger planet, so your left with a ring system orbiting the larger planet. But after a while the practicals "cool down" and the particles turn into small body's of rock. Some might collide into one another and possibly form a small moon or something.
...That could be added in the future, after you guys take a well deserved break, until something better comes along and without adding that SPH or something and it could be easier.
Yes, indeed. Look for "Roche" in relation to universe sandbox. I made a few videos of it, without SPH, already. Currently it is, however, implemented as a total breakup, so when the body travels near the distance where the differential gravitational pull prevents a body from being formed, then it breaks up into a bunch of fragments.
This is obviously a simplification, but it gives the desired result. There is still some work being done on this transition from normal body to molten mess of fragments, which should be addressed before presenting it as a done feature.
Indeed.
But instead of a total body break up, you could go with this.
I think it could be easier to code this than what you wish to code and implement in the future.
Like if a small planet gets to close to a larger object, the coding tells the small planet to "eject" a small or large amount of particles out of the back end of the smaller planet, and while it's doing that, the small planet also shrinks into nothing leaving the particles in orbit.
So when the small planet is gone, your left with the ring system.
And after a while, when you get the total body break up problem figured out, you can implement the better version of the Roche limit.
What's your opinion?