Separation Energy and Binding Energy of a Split Comet Nucleus

This paper examines the energy required to split a comet nucleus into two separating fragments. Using only published input values and transparent formulae, the calculation obtains the following headline results: parent_mass_kg = 2.094e+12; mutual_binding_energy_J = 4.61e+10; ratio_KE_to_mutual_binding = 5.68. The parent mass is about 2.1 x 10^12 kilograms, its total binding energy about 1.8 x 10^11 joules, and its surface escape speed only about 0.53 metres per second. The method, inputs and limitations behind the study of the energy required to split a comet nucleus into two separating fragments are stated in full so that any reader can reproduce or rescale every number from the deposited calculation script. Agreement and disagreement with independent published estimates are reported at their actual size, and the conclusions are limited to what the budget arithmetic for a kilometre-radius parent body dividing into two equal halves supports.