125-127] 



The Tidal Problem 



127 



EXPLANATION. 



(a) Undistorted sphere, and longest spheroid which is statically stable. 



(b) Longest spheroid which is dynamically stable, and pear-shaped figure derived by third 



harmonic displacement. 



(c) More elongated pear-shaped figure, and figure derived by fourth harmonic displacement. 



(d) The last figure more elongated, and with fifth harmonic displacement surperposed. 



(e) Conjectural drawing of subsequent configuration. 



