And how unlikely would that be to happen?
2006-10-16 05:40:17 · 6 answers · asked by Kango Man 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
About 10^15 or so..... At a going rate of a few per second the probability is pretty low.
Cosmic rays have energies ranging from 1 GeV to 10^20 GeV.
The former is about the mass of a proton, the latter is a one per year event. Let's say the average energy is 10^10 GeV. Then you would need 10^15 to get a kilogram worth of energy.
2006-10-16 05:49:18 · answer #1 · answered by cordefr 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You would have to launch yourself into orbit in an unshielded space shuttle for that to happen. Good luck. What kind of super powers are you hoping for...?
Actually, let's consider this. Suppose a cosmic ray particle (they were called 'rays' long before it was proven that they were particles) hits you in the head. The particle is a deuteron, a helium nucleus. That is to say, it is a pair of protons and a pair of neutrons. So it is fairly massive.
But they do have penetrating power. Suppose one of them directly impacted a water molecule at the tip of an axon, the end of a nerve synapse. It would dissociate the water molecule into an O+ and OH- ions, each carryng an electric charge. That charge, in the right place, COULD simulate a nerve signal propagating from neuron to neuron. The result is that there would be a signal through your brain, and if it was in the right (wrong?) place, it could indicate that you had lost balance, when in fact you did not.
But you might overcompensate on the side where you thought you were losing balance, with the result that you would fall down.
So, theoreticaly, it could take as few as one cosmic ray to knock you over.
2006-10-16 05:47:28 · answer #2 · answered by cdf-rom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I once read about detection of a cosmic ray that had the energy of a rolled bowling ball. So I would have to say one, assuming the ensuing collisions of particles on particles effectively distributed the incoming momentum.
2006-10-16 14:23:09 · answer #3 · answered by SAN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm coming round to your house to get some of them drugs!!!
i did get hit with a cosmic ray one time, he whacked me when he was stoned!!!
2006-10-16 05:49:33 · answer #4 · answered by Ozzy D 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cos mic and ray are gentle and dont throw punches unless you upset them and ray being the bigger i should think only him.
2006-10-16 05:53:32 · answer #5 · answered by Andy P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on how old you are or drunk you are, probably loads not that i have a clue.
2006-10-16 05:47:18 · answer #6 · answered by craig m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋