If an asteroid's diameter is b/w 47-100 meters
and it's velocity relative to earth is 13.0 km/sec.
and the composition is unknown.
and we know that it has come w/i 0.0409 AU of Earth...
what is the maximum amount of energy that would be deposited on Earth in the worst case scenario?
How do you calculatet his?
It's telling us to us the kinetic energy formula which is: 1/2mv^2.
But I don't know how to find the mass of an object if we have the diameter.
Thanks! :D
2007-12-05 06:44:29 · 8 answers · asked by Miss Realistic 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
You have to assume some density. Since the question asks for the maximum amount of energy, assume the same density as the densest asteroid or planet known. Mercury is the densest planet (5.42 g/cm3) but for most asteroids we really have no clue how dense they really are. So it isn't just you who doesn't know the mass. Nobody does.
2007-12-05 06:53:23 · answer #1 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most asteroids have an assumed mass of 2 g/cm^3 (water/ice ~1, solid rock ~3) We know that the majority of asteroids are not monoliths but are rubble piles held together by gravity (observation of spin rates tell us this).
The mass of an object can be calculated if it is orbiting another object using Newtons version of Keplers 3rd law, however as the asteroid is orbiting the sun this becomes problematic since the asteroids mass is insignificant by comparison. Thats why we need to look at binary asteroid systems or send out probes to visit and orbit the asteroids.
2007-12-05 07:49:47 · answer #2 · answered by The Lazy Astronomer 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The way one measures mass of celestial bodies is by looking at the orbits of their satellites. If we can't see a satellite, be that a natural moon, a piece of debris or a space craft orbiting a body, we can't measure its mass. So we have to assume its chemical composition and multiply that average density with the volume we can measure optically.
2007-12-05 06:55:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know how you could get the mass unless it can be determined by the velocity somehow, which I doubt. You can't find the mass from the diameter, unless you knew what it was made out of.
2007-12-05 06:48:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless they've given it to you somewhere, I don't think you can get the mass. It says in the problem, "composition unknown", so you can't even assume if it's rock, ice, or iron.
I'd just give them the formula: KE = 1/2 M (13.0KM)^2, or
KE/M = 84.5Km^2/KG^2
2007-12-05 06:57:38 · answer #5 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the technique is straightforward. i anticipate that the item is a sphere (otherwise the time era diameter has no which potential). the quantity of a sphere is (4/3) X pi X radius^3. The radius is one 0.5 the diameter. So calculate the quantity and then multiply by potential of the density.
2016-12-17 08:12:20 · answer #6 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what is you suppose to do is take the numbers you got and divide by how many meters you have then u get your answer
2007-12-05 06:55:29 · answer #7 · answered by tar b 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Stop getting us to do your homework.
2007-12-05 06:52:23 · answer #8 · answered by Matthew O. 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋