Stephen <mca### [at] aolcom> wrote:
> This is not a stable configuration. If there was a star in the centre of
> the torus. Any slight movement of the torus to the centre would be
> magnified by the closer part being attracted to the star more than the
> part that is further away. Starting a wobble that would end up looking
> like a hula hoop.

Not a wobble, if it encircled a star there would be no orbital motion - an
outright crash! This is the scenario overlooked by Niven in Ringworld, which he
later retconned with the rim stabilising thrusters.

However, I do not believe the present artifact is supposed to encircle a star,
or spin like a ringworld (at least not enough to generate significant
centrifugal forces). I like the idea that it is planet-scaled, generating
gravity by virtue of its own mass. It is difficult to see how it could form
naturally of course...

Bill

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