A asteroid (m = 2.9 x 108 kg) is flying on a path that will cause a direct impact with earth at 20 km/s and is currently 8.4 x 1010 m away. If our planet has a diameter of 12 742km calculate the minimum velocity a projectile (mass = 5.7 x 104 kg) moving perpendicular to the asteroid's motion needs to cause the asteroid to miss and spare all our lives by hitting the asteroid in a perfectly (and beautifully) inelastic collision.
A asteroid (m = 2.9 x 108 kg) is flying on a path that will cause a direct impact with earth at 20 km/s and is currently 8.4 x 1010 m away. If our planet has a diameter of 12 742km calculate the minimum velocity a projectile (mass = 5.7 x 104 kg) moving perpendicular to the asteroid's motion needs to cause the asteroid to miss and spare all our lives by hitting the asteroid in a perfectly (and beautifully) inelastic collision.
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