A 0.872 km diameter asteroid will make a crater about 10 km in diameter. Let the asteroid have a density of 3000 kg/m3 and impact the surface at 22 km/sec. Assuming a spherical asteroid, what is the kinetic energy (in joule) of the asteroid? Convert the answer to megatons of TNT, where 1 megaton is about 4 × 1015 joule. For comparison, the most energetic weapon in the human arsenal is about 100 megatons.
Gravitational force
In nature, every object is attracted by every other object. This phenomenon is called gravity. The force associated with gravity is called gravitational force. The gravitational force is the weakest force that exists in nature. The gravitational force is always attractive.
Acceleration Due to Gravity
In fundamental physics, gravity or gravitational force is the universal attractive force acting between all the matters that exist or exhibit. It is the weakest known force. Therefore no internal changes in an object occurs due to this force. On the other hand, it has control over the trajectories of bodies in the solar system and in the universe due to its vast scope and universal action. The free fall of objects on Earth and the motions of celestial bodies, according to Newton, are both determined by the same force. It was Newton who put forward that the moon is held by a strong attractive force exerted by the Earth which makes it revolve in a straight line. He was sure that this force is similar to the downward force which Earth exerts on all the objects on it.
A 0.872 km diameter asteroid will make a crater about 10 km in diameter. Let the asteroid have a density of 3000 kg/m3 and impact the surface at 22 km/sec. Assuming a spherical asteroid, what is the kinetic energy (in joule) of the asteroid? Convert the answer to megatons of TNT, where 1 megaton is about 4 × 1015 joule. For comparison, the most energetic weapon in the human arsenal is about 100 megatons.
Given data:
The diameter of the asteroid (D) = 0.872 km = 872 m
Density of the asteroid = 3000 kg/m3
Velocity with which the asteroid impacts the surface = 22 km/sec
= 22000 m/s
Need to determine the kinetic energy (in joule) of the asteroid.
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