The rings of Saturn consist of more than 95 percent of the ice particles.
Planetary rings which surround Saturn, Neptune and Uranus were formed four billion years ago, when large objects were very close to the planets and were destroyed.
To such conclusions scientists have come, trying to figure out the mystery of the origin and diversity of these rings.
Huge planet in our Solar system have different rings. The observations of scientists indicate that the rings of Saturn consist of more than 95% of ice particles, while the rings of Neptune and Uranus are darker. A study conducted by researchers at Kobe University and Tokyo Institute of technology, Japan, focused on the period called the Late Heavy (Bombardment) , which occurred 4 billion years ago the Solar system when giant planets were subject to orbital migration. The researchers calculated the probability that these large objects were close to the giant planets and were destroyed their tidal power in the late heavy bombardment.
The results showed that Saturn, Uranus and Neptune experienced a close contact with such large objects several times. The team used computer modeling to study the destruction of these Kuiper belt objects in the tidal force, when they passed near the giant planets. It was found that the total mass of the captured fragments is sufficient to explain the weight of rings around the planets Saturn and Uranus. Such collisions between the fragments can send them circulars orbit and lead to the formation of the rings observed today.
This model can also explain the compositional difference between the rings of Uranus and Saturn. Compared to the last Uranus and Neptune have higher densities. That is, objects may move in the vicinity of the planet, where they experience a very strong tidal forces. In the end, if the Kuiper belt objects have a layered structure, such as a rocky core with an icy mantle, and pass in the vicinity of Uranus or Neptune, even the rocky core will be destroyed, forming colicas rocky composition. However, if they pass by Saturn, then destroyed the only ice mantle, creating ice rings.
