CAOSP abstracts, Volume: 41, No.: 1, year: 2011

Abstract: In collisions between macroscopic spherical-shape objects, these objects are usually regarded as dimensionless, point-like particles. This assumption causes an overestimate of the orbital velocity of mergers, because real bodies have finite dimensions and a part of their orbital impulse is converted to the rotation of the merger. We give a statistical estimate of this impulse and, thus, the merger's velocity vector, which is a better approximation of reality. The provided formula is simple and, therefore, suitable to be used in a robust simulation of, e.g., the planet-formation process.